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A Sentry Ordered Dan to Stop His Car 


THE 

CAMP FIRE GIRLS 
BEHIND THE LINES 


BY 


MARGARET VANDERCOOK 


Author of “The Ranch Girls” Series, “The Red 
Cross Girls” Series, etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 


PHILADELPHIA 

THE JOHN C/ WINSTON CO. 

PUBLISHERS 


.0 - 6g'3 ^ 



Copyright, 1918, by 

The John C. Winston Company 


stories about camp fire girls 

List of Titles in the Order of their Publication 

The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill 

The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows 

The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World 

The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea 

The Camp Fire Girls’ Careers 

The Camp Fire Girls in After Years 

The Camp Fire Girls at the Edge of the Desert 

The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail 

The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines 

The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor 





JftN 24 1919 

©CLATj 12149 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. ^'El Camino Real’\ ... 7 

II. The Land of Romance . . 19 

III. The Call to Service ... 32 

IV. The Camp and Tempera- 

mental Excursions ... 42 

V. Abalone Shells 51 

VI. Own Will Come to 

Me^’ 61 

VII. The Sacrifice of Youth . 78 

VIII. Felipe 89 

IX. The Cantonment .... 98 

X. Plans 106 

XI. The Dance 118 

XII. ^'As You Like It’^ . . . . 138 

XIII. Human Psychology .... 149 

XIV. The Night of the Play . 164 

XV. Will Marry You, if 

Ever I Marry Woman 175 

XVI. Gerry’s Opportunity . . . 189 

XVII. Folly and Courage . . . 206 

XVIII. The Summons 214 

XIX. Plans for the Future . . 226 

XX. Bitter Waters 240 

( 5 ) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


A Sentry Ordered Dan to Stop His 
Car Frontispiece 

PAGE 


Their Host Led the Way Through 
THE Outer Court into the En- 
closed One 74 w 

On One Occasion Gerry and Felipe 
Discovered that They were Ac- 
tually Dancing Alone 124 

As Mrs. Burton Drew Near She 
Recognized One of Them as Dan 
Webster 216 


( 6 ) 


Tke Camp Fire Girls 
Behind tlie Lines 


CHAPTER I 

"El Camino Real" 

SMALL cavalcade was slowly wind- 
ing down a steep, white road. 



^ The bare, brown hills rose up on 

one side like the earth’s friars of St. Francis, 
while on the other, at some distance away, 
the Pacific Ocean showed green and still. 
Near the shore the waves broke into white 
sprites of foam against the deep, incurving 


cliffs. 


A girl riding at the head of the column 
reined in her horse, afterwards making a 
mysterious sign in the air with one upraised 
hand. 

In answer to her signal the other riders, a 
group of Camp Fire girls, also stopped their 


( 7 ) 


8 


BEHIND THE LINES 


horses. Across many miles sounded faintly 
the deep-toned voices of old mission bells. 

believe the mission is ringing a fare- 
well to us/^ one of the girls remarked to the 
companion whose western pony had stopped 
nearest her own. ^'To me, of all the 
Spanish missions we have seen so far, Car- 
mel was the loveliest. ^Carmelo* — ^why, 
the very name has an enchanting sound ! 

“Bells of the Past, whose long-forgotten music 
Still fills the wide expanse, 

Tingeing the sober twihght of the Present 
With colors of romance! 

'T hear you call, and see the sun descending 
> On rock and wave and sand, 

As down the coast the mission voices, blending. 
Girdle the heathen land! 

“Borne on the swell of your long waves receding, 

I touch the farther Past — 

I see the dying glow of Spanish glory. 

The sunset dream and last!’^ 

The girl who had been reciting possessed 
an odd, charming voice with a slightly 
hoarse note. She was small and had bright, 
almost copper-colored hair. Her slender 


CAMINO REAL 


9 


nose, which had a queer little twist at the 
end, destroyed any claim she might other- 
wise have had to conventional beauty and 
yet curiously enough added to the fascina- 
tion of her expression. 

The other girl shook her head. 

don’t agree with you, Marta. You 
seem to me in as great a state of enthusiasm 
over everything we have seen in California 
as if you were a native. I confess to you 
I am a little weary of visiting old Spanish 
missions. Personally I shall be glad when 
we are in our summer camp. The missions 
are so empty and so sleepy these days with 
their queer, dreamy old gardens and no one 
to be seen except an occasional tourist and 
a few old monks. Nevertheless I liked your 
recitation. Sometimes I wonder, Marta, 
if you intend imitating our Camp Fire 
guardian’s career?” 

Gerry Williams spoke in a voice of 
amused superiority she often employed in 
talking with other girls. 

Marta Clark’s eyes, which had the strange 
characteristic of appearing to change in 
color according to her moods, now darkened 
slightly as she turned to gaze steadily at her 
companion. 


10 


BEHIND THE LINES 


you know, Gerry, I have an idea 
the old missions would never have bored 
you, if you had any thought that a prince 
might come and discover you in one of 
them!” 

Certainly not,” Gerry laughed. 

Gerry was alluring. Her hat was hang- 
ing over the pommel of her saddle so that 
her fair hair was blowing about her face. 
Now that the sun and wind had tanned her 
delicate skin, her blue eyes looked bluer 
than ever. 

Instead of replying, Marta Clark, at this 
instant, turned her horse with the intention 
of riding beside one of the other girls. 

Marta Clark was the latest addition to 
the new group of Sunrise Hill Camp Fire 
girls. The summer before she had met them 
in Arizona where they were camping at the 
^^End of the Trail.” At that time she was 
living nearby in a tent with her brother 
who had been seriously ill. Her brother’s 
health had improved and he had written a 
successful play. Afterwards his marriage 
to Ellen Deal, one of the older Camp Fire 
girls, had made it possible for Marta Clark 
to accept Mrs. Burton’s invitation to join 


CAMINO REAL” 


11 


her Camp Fire group. As her guests they 
were now traveUng along the Pacific coast, 
visiting the old Spanish missions. 

The King’s Highway, called in the old 
Spanish tongue, El Camino Real, stretches 
from northern California to the southern- 
most end. 

One of the other Camp Fire girls turned 
her head as Marta came near her. All the 
horses were moving on again. 

wonder why the automobile has not 
caught up with us?” Peggy Webster re- 
marked. supposed the car would have 
passed us long ago. As it is time for tea, and 
I am already tired, I think it would have 
been more sensible if we had remained 
together.” 

The little riding party of six girls was 
accompanied by a large wagon filled with a 
camping outfit. The wagon was drawn by 
a small pair of gray mules and driven by a 
tall, raw-boned man, a typical western 
plainsman. Beside him sat a young fellow 
about seventeen years old. The wagon was 
following a few yards behind the riders. 

^^Then suppose we stop and have tea 
while we wait and watch for the others,” 


12 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Bettina Graham proposed, having over- 
heard Peggy’s lament 

“I don’t believe they could have lost 
their way, since one has only to follow the 
guide posts of the old mission beUs. Never- 
theless Tante has a most eccentric fashion 
of suddenly deciding to explore along small 
byways. But they must surely come along 
here finally.’’ 

Peggy Webster shook her head. 

^^We had best ride on for a little while 
longer in order to make the distance we 
planned to make today. Perhaps by that 
time the car wiU have joined us. In any 
case we can find a better place to watch and 
to prepare tea.” 

At the present time on each side the road 
the mustard plants were blooming, making 
a broad field of the cloth of gold broken only 
by the long trail. 

Further along down the slope of a hill- 
side a miniature orange grove had been 
planted with trees no larger than would 
have comfortably shaded dolls’ houses. 

Then, as they rode on, the Camp Fire 
girls drew nearer to the line of the coast. 
A fog was blowing in from the sea. 


CAMINO REAL^’ 


13 


Finally, standing up in her stirrups for an 
instant, Peggy Webster pointed ahead. 

^^See those three rocks down there that 
look like ^the Big Bear, the Middle-Sized 
Bear and the Little Bear,^ in the fairy story! 
DonH you think they would form a com- 
fortable background for our tea party? 
At least they wiU be a protection from the 
wind. If we go on and the fog grows much 
thicker we shall not be able even to see each 
other.'' 

Soon after the horses and the wagon 
halted and Dan Webster climbed down, 
bearing the tea basket. Mr. Simpson, who 
was continuing to act as guide, took charge 
of the horses. 

The coast looked bare and wind-swept. 
There were no trees nearby and no drift- 
wood along the shore. 

However, nearly two hundred years be- 
fore, when Father Juniper Serra founded 
and built the Spanish missions of California, 
he and his brother monks left behind them 
a golden harvest. In all their pilgrimages 
from land's end to land's end they flung 
the seed of the mustard plant along their 
route. 


14 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Leaving the other girls to unpack the 
tea basket, Marta Clark and Bettina walked 
quickly back along the road until not a 
quarter of a mile away they discovered 
another field of the omnipresent mustard. 

Then the two girls began searching for 
the dried stems of the mustard plant in order 
to start their camp fire. 

Bettina was standing with her arms filled 
with the long stems when Marta Clark 
came close up beside her. Both of the girls 
were knee deep among the golden fiowers. 

'^You look like Ruth among the corn, 
Bettina,^’ Marta remarked, surveying the 
other girl with generous admiration. 

“Do you remember the story of Ruth in 
the Bible? ^So she gleaned in the field 
until even, and beat out that she had 
gleaned. And she took it up and went into 
the city.^ ” 

Bettina shook her head. “No, I do not 
remember. It is wonderful to me, your 
ability to quote so correctly. If ever you 
are able to do the thing you desire, your 
memory wiU be a wonderful help. But I 
am not going to talk about it. I know you 
feel as embarrassed over your ambition as 
I do over mine.^^ 


CAMINO REAL 


15 


In the past few weeks Marta Clark and 
Bettina were beginning to feel a deep 
interest in each other. This was but 
natural, for although they were unlike in 
character they had many tastes in com- 
mon. Marta was quick and passionate, 
while Bettina was apt to appear almost 
too serene and self-controlled. Yet they 
both cared for books, for human beauty and 
the beauty of the great outdoors. 

During the few moments the girls were 
talking the fog had been closing in more 
thickly about them until it was only possi- 
ble to see the road a few yards away 
through a cloak of mist. 

At this instant they distinctly heard the 
noise of an approaching motor car. 

Mrs. Richard Burton, better known to 
the world as the famous actress, Polly 
O^Neill Burton, and guardian to the group 
of Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls, had chosen 
to make the journey down the California 
coast in her automobile. 

This afternoon her sister, Mrs. Webster, 
her nephew, Billy Webster, Vera Lagerloff 
and the maid, Marie, were traveling with 
her. 


16 BEHIND THE LINES 

The plan had been that the Camp Fire 
girls should start on their riding trip 
several hours ahead and that they meet 
later and camp for the night at some agree- 
able place along their journey. 

Marta and Bettina ran forward, intend- 
ing to stop the approaching car. Both 
girls were thinking that the car was moving 
much more swiftly than usual. 

Almost immediately they saw that the 
automobile coming toward them was not 
Mrs. Burton^s, but a small khaki-colored 
roadster driven by a United States officer 
with another soldier on the seat beside him. 

They were going along at full speed as 
if they were carrying information of great 
importance.'^ 

Then suddenly, without Marta or Bettina 
recognizing the cause, the car swerved, made 
a wide detour and quickly overturned. A 
few seconds later when the two girls, hoping 
to be of service, had reached the car, the 
young United States officer was crawling 
slowly out from beneath the wreck. 

He tried to stand up and to smile reassur- 
ingly at Bettina, who chanced to be ahead, 
but the next moment if she had not put 


CAMINO REAL 


17 


out her arm to steady him he would have 
fallen. 

A little while after he was sitting un- 
heroically amid the dust of the roadside, 
smiling somewhat quizzically up at his 
rescuer 

don’t believe I am seriously hurt,” 
he remarked cheerfully, ^^but as I loiow you 
are patriotic and would like to try your 
first-aid remedies upon me, please go ahead. 
I am Lieutenant Carson and at present I 
appear to be a somewhat unsuccessful 
Paul Revere. But would you mind explain- 
ing, while you are washing the dirt out of 
this plagued cut on my forehead, why you 
are wearing a costume that seems to suggest 
a combination of an Indian princess’ outfit 
and a soldier’s uniform?” 

Marta Clark was devoting her attention 
to the other soldier, who did not appear to 
be hurt but only slightly dazed from his 
mishap. 

Bettina for an instant regretted that she 
was unable to change places with Marta. 
She had studied first aid, of course, along 
with her Camp Fire work, but was not 
accustomed to masculine patients. 


18 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Moreover, Bettina considered that the 
young officer was showing an unwarranted 
personal interest in his first war nurse. As 
a matter of fact, she entirely refused to 
pay any attention to his questioning. 


CHAPTER II 


The Land of Romance 

T WO weeks later two women were 
walking up and down a garden path 
in the moonlight. 

Across from them stood a long, low adobe 
house of a single story. The veranda, 
extending from one end to the other, was 
so thickly covered with a flowering vine 
that even in the moonlight one could get 
the reflection of its brilliant color. The 
air was scented with the fragrant perfume 
of roses and the blossoms of orange and 
lemon trees. From behind the soft shading 
of the vine across the road came the brilliant 
twanging of a guitar and a mandolin. 
Two voices were singing a Spanish love song. 

Farther away imder the deeper shadow 
of the moon a white cross arose above a 
mass of fallen stone. 

^^I declare, MoUie, this is the old world, 
not the new, isn’t it? I feel as if we had 
traveled away from our own country today 
( 19 ) 


20 


BEHIND THE LINES 


into a foreign land; but what land I cannot 
say, because this place tonight must be 
more beautiful and more romantic than 
even Spain itself. Yet one is not sorry 
to forget for a little while the present world 
and its tragedies!’’ 

The other woman shook her head. The 
two sisters were the same height, had 
nearly the same character of features and 
the same coloring; nevertheless were curi- 
ously unlike. 

One conspicuous difference was in their 
voices. 

^^Do you know, Polly, I think perhaps 
you have made a mistake in bringing the 
Camp Fire girls to spend the summer in so 
picturesque a place. We probably shall 
have a romance on our hands before the 
season is over,” Mrs. Webster answered. 
'Ht is natural of course that you should be 
affected by such surroundings. But when 
a night hke this has an influence upon a 
woman of my age with an almost grown-up 
family, it makes me feel extremely nervous 
when I consider the girls.” 

Mrs. Burton laughed. 

'^Nevertheless, my beloved Mollie, even 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 21 


if you have a grown-up family and I have 
no children, I don’t see what difference the 
fact makes in our ages, as we happen to be 
twins. Besides, I never could see why age 
should destroy one’s susceptibility to 
beauty! My only feeling is that perhaps 
we have no right to ease and enjoyment of 
any kind this summer, now that the United 
States has entered the war. I don’t think 
I should have invited the girls on this long 
trip had I known beforehand. I feel I 
ought to be devoting all my energies to 
war work; however, we must do whatever 
we can out here. Richard seemed to 
think it impossible to have me near the 
southern camp where he is located.” 

Mrs. Webster sighed gently in response. 
She was unhappy over the war, too, but not 
so inclined as her sister to take deeply to 
heart the sorrows of the world when they 
did not touch her personally. 

^^Well, I am glad we can be together for 
a few months longer, Polly. I realize it is 
selfish of me, and yet I do rejoice that 
neither Dan nor Billy is old enough to be 
drafted. Dan’s desire to volunteer is of 
course ridiculous! At least, I shall safe- 


22 


BEHIND THE LINES 


guard my boys. I am also glad my hus- 
band is doing war work by increasing the 
amount of food raised upon our place, 
instead of entering the service as an 
ordnance officer as your husband has. 
Dear me, I really think it is very fine of 
Richard at his age!” 

Shrugging her shoulders, Mrs. Burton 
smiled a little ruefully. 

^^You are determined to dwell upon our 
great age tonight, arenT you, MoUie mine? 
Please remember that your daughter Peggy 
bestowed her affections upon Ralph Marshall 
last summer when we were at the Grand 
Canyon and not in southern California. 
Yet I do feel that with the possibility of 
young soldiers and officers turning up at 
any moment in our midst, you and I will 
have to be unusually vigilant chaperons. 

“But do let us go now and find what has 
become of the girls. We have had a long 
journey and should soon be in bed.” 

Mrs. Burton shpped her arm inside her 
sister’s and drew her away from the old 
hotel garden across the gleaming road. 

To the right of them, bathed in the half- 
tropic moonlight, was the old Spanish mis- 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 23 


sion of San Juan Capistrano, named in 
honor of a warrior-saint of the Crusades. 
It was the loveliest place in all California. 

As they walked slowly on Mrs. Burton 
recited in an undertone, and with the emo- 
tional sweetness which had captivated 
countless audiences and which never failed 
to thrill her sister: 

from the south slow filed a train, 

Priests and soldiers of old Spain, 

Who through the sunlit country wound 
With cross and lance, intent to found 
A mission in that wild to John, 

Soldier saint of Capistran.” 

They stopped a moment as if to let the 
beauty sink deep, and then the two women 
entered the gate of the old mission grounds. 

Early in the afternoon the Sunrise Camp 
Fire party had arrived at the little half- 
foreign town of Capistrano, set midway, 
like a link with the past, between the two 
modern cities of San Diego and Los Angeles. 
For hours they had been exploring the old 
mission. Then, after dinner, the Camp Fire 
girls, \\dth Dan and BiUy Webster to act as 
escorts had asked the privilege of return- 


24 


BEHIND THE LINES 


ing to remain in the old mission garden 
until bedtime. 

Tonight, to Mrs. Burton^s eyes at least, 
the mission looked like a half-ruined palace 
of dreams. Once the mission of San Juan 
Capistrano held a great stone church, a 
pillared court, a portico, a rectangle; here 
the Franciscan fathers had their cells, and 
many rooms for distinguished guests. It 
was the richest and most splendid mission in 
old California. 

But at present only the ruins of its past 
remained. 

Above, in one of the crumbhng arches of 
the colonnade, an owl hooted so hoarsely 
that Mrs. Webster clutched her sister’s 
arm in a tighter clasp. The greeting had 
sounded, not like a welcome, but a warning. 

There was no one to be seen and the place 
was wrapped in a kind of ghostly silence. 

^Ht is most extraordinary how the girls 
and Dan and BiUy have disappeared,” Mrs. 
Burton whispered plaintively, scarcely dar- 
ing to speak in a natural tone. 

She and Mrs. Burton had passed through 
one of the colonnades and were now in the 
old court in the rear. Along one side ran a 
line of forsaken cloisters. 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 25 


^^Wait a moment, Mollie, please,^’ Mrs. 
Burton murmured. 

Adding to the enchantment of the present 
scene she could hear again the sound of 
music. The two musicians who had been 
singing on the veranda across from their 
hotel also must have wandered into the 
mission grounds. 

Then, almost at the same instant, Mrs. 
Burton and Mrs. Webster discovered the 
Camp Fire girls. 

Beyond the enclosed space of the old 
mission lay a broad piece of open ground. 
Over it tonight poured the unbroken radi- 
ance of the moon. In time long past this 
ground had been devoted to the use of the 
Indians who were being taught Christianity 
and the habits of civilization by the Spanish 
fathers. In those days this ground was 
encircled by a row of Indian huts. One 
part was set apart for the Indian women 
and girls, and here the Indian maiden 
remained in seclusion until her wedding 
day. 

But tonight, in some mysterious fashion, 
the past seemed to have came back, for a 
group of Indian maidens had returned to 
their former dwelling place. 


26 


BEHIND THE LINES 


^^The picture is too lovely to disturb/^ 
Mrs. Burton whispered irresolutely. 

In the moonlight one could not discern 
the differences in the costumes of the 
Camp Fire girls, nor their fairer coloring. 

Bettina, Marta, Peggy and Alice Ashton 
were seated upon the ground, forming a 
square, with Dan standing apparently hov- 
ering hke a guardian angel above them. 

As usual, Billy Webster was lying gazing 
up at the sky and Vera Lagerloff was sitting 
beside him. 

A little apart from the others Gerry 
Williams and SaUy Ashton were stroUing 
up and down with their arms intertwined. 

/^Do you think we should speak of our 
plan immediately?^^ Bettina Graham was 
inquiring of the other three girls. '^Unless 
we can carry it out I don’t feel that we 
have the right to our Camp Fire summer 
together.” 

In the moonlight her yellow brown hair 
had turned a bright gold. 

Peggy, who was ever a direct and sensible 
person, shook her head. 

^^We must wait until we have found the 
location for our camp and are fairly well 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 27 


settled,” she replied. ^^At present our own 
ideas as to what we can do to help with 
the war work are much too vague. But I 
suppose we shall be near the great National 
Guard war training camp, and that in 
itself ought to be an inspiration. Have 
you ever heard from your wounded lieu- 
tenant, Bettina? It was amusing to have 
him and his friend to tea in so imexpected 
a fashion. I shall never forget how amazed 
the family was on discovering us with 
soldier guests. I am sorry we have never 
seen either of them again.” 

have had one note from Lieutenant 
Carson, saying that he was aU right,” 
Bettina answered. ^^He will probably be 
stationed at the cantonment near here. I 
wish for your sake Ralph Marshall was to 
be there instead.” 

There was no engagement existing be- 
tween Peggy Webster and Ralph Marshall. 
But Peggy was too transparent a person to 
conceal her interest in Ralph after their 
past summer of misunderstanding and final 
reconciliation. As Ralph had volunteered 
and joined the aviation corps soon after 
the entry of the United States into the war, 


28 


BEHIND THE LINES 


she had not seen him in many months. 
But it was understood that they wrote to 
each other and Peggy openly expressed her 
pride in Ralph^s courage and ability. Ralph 
had been offered an opportunity to remain 
in his own country and act as an aviation 
instructor, but instead had chosen to go to 
France. At the present time he was in a 
camp on Long Island waiting his hour for 
sailing. 

Before Peggy could make a reply to 
Bettina^s final speech, the four girls saw 
their Camp Fire guardians approaching 
and rose to greet them. 

^^You girls look too picturesque to dis- 
turb, and yet we must not remain outdoors 
all night, no matter how the beauty of the 
night tempts us. I trust we may have 
many other nights as radiant as this before 
our summer is over,’’ said Mrs. Burton, 
half apologizing for her own and her sister’s 
intrusion. 

A few moments later the Sunrise Camp 
Fire girls were walking slowly away from 
the mission grounds to their own rose- 
covered hotel. 

Not by accident, but because of a com- 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 29 


mon purpose, Sally and Gerry managed to 
linger a few yards behind the others. 

The singing which had so fascinated Mrs. 
Burton and added to the witchery of the 
night had also attracted the attention of the 
two girls. But it was not the music alone 
which had charmed them. In their care- 
less strolling up and down apart from their 
companions, SaUy and Gerry had dimly 
seen the figures of the two musicians. 

The mysterious singers had kept always 
in the background, only approaching suffi- 
ciently near for their songs to be heard; 
and yet, notwithstanding this, SaUy and 
Gerry had managed to find out that they 
were two young men dressed in Mexican 
costumes. But whether they were Mexi- 
cans or Americans they could not guess, 
since it was impossible to see their faces and 
they seemed able to sing Spanish or English 
songs with equal ease. 

The fact was that Gerry and SaUy had 
arranged a scheme between them by which 
they hoped to make a desired discovery. 
Their scheme would have appaUed the 
other Camp Fire girls, but they chanced to 
have unfike views in regard to the agreeable 


30 


BEHIND THE LINES 


adventures and experiences of life. More- 
over, they often preferred bestowing their 
confidences only upon each other. 

As the rest of the Camp Fire party moved 
on, both Sally and Gerry became aware that 
the musicians were growing bolder and were 
drawing nearer. 

Both girls would have liked to turn round 
and deliberately look back. Yet they had 
scarcely the courage for this breach of 
taste, in spite of the fact that it was night 
and the redeeming grace of the moonlight 
rested over them. 

Sally was carrying a little beaded Indian 
bag which she managed to drop without any 
one, aside from Gerry, noticing. 

After going on a little further, unexpect- 
edly they turned back to pick up the lost 
possession. 

The two young men were thus within 
only a few feet of them. 

There was but little satisfaction in the 
adventure, nevertheless, for although one 
of the musicians stepped forward and 
gravely ^presented Sally with the Indian 
bag he had observed on the ground between 
them; yet neither he nor his companion 


THE LAND OF ROMANCE 31 


spoke and it was impossible, with their 
broad Mexican hats, to obtain a satisfactory 
view of their faces without revealing too 
great curiosity. 

As a matter of fact, the entire Camp 
Fire party was unaware of the interest their 
appearance in the little town of Capistrano 
during the afternoon had excited. There / 
were always tourists visiting the old mission, 
especially at this season of the year. But 
the number and appearance of the girls, 
their picturesque, half Indian costumes, 
which always puzzled people unacquainted 
with the Camp Fire uniform, and the big 
wagon carrying their large camping outfit, 
gave them a unique distinction. 


CHAPTER III 


The Call to Service 

O N a ledge of rock with the Pacific 
Ocean as a background a girl was 
standing, holding a bugle to her 
lips and with it sounding a clear, musical 
call. 

Not far off a number of persons were 
seated about a smouldering camp fire. All 
day the sun had been hot, almost as a 
tropic sun, but now with the coming of the 
late afternoon a cool breeze was blowing in 
from the sea. 

The feminine members of the little circle 
were knitting and sewing. 

One of the two young men was holding a 
hank of wool, which a brown-haired, brown- 
eyed girl was winding slowly and carefully 
into a great ball. The other was lying full 
length on the ground looking toward the 
water. 

^^Why is my Sister Peggy sounding taps 

( 32 ) 


THE CALL TO SERVICE 33 


or a reveiUe, since at present it is neither 
morning nor night? he questioned. “It 
seems impossible these days to get away 
from the sights and sounds which suggest 
war. I had hoped that when we were in 
camp out here in this far-away country we 
might at least have a little rest.^’ 

Billy Webster’s manner was that of a 
spoiled and fretful boy; nevertheless an 
uncomfortable silence followed his speech. 

Ever it appears impossible in this world, 
even among a small group of persons, to 
preserve entire harmony! In spite of his 
youth and his fragility, in spite of his quiet 
voice and oftentimes gentle manner, Billy 
Webster, from the time he ceased wearing 
dresses, had been able to sow discord. 
The trouble was that Billy always refused to 
think like the people surrounding him. 

At present, when the entire Camp Fire 
party was interested heart and soul in the 
successful carrying on of the war, BiUy had 
announced himself a pacifist. If he had 
contented himself with the mere announce- 
ment, his friends and family would have 
accepted his point of view with comparative 
equanimity. But with Billy the frequent 


34 


BEHIND THE LINES 


exposition of his opinions was as the 
breath of hfe. 

At this moment Vera Lagerloff leaned 
over to say in a whisper: 

'^For goodness^ sake, Billy, please donT 
start an argument now on the subject of the 
war. You know how intensely Mrs. Burton 
disapproves of your ideas and how angry 
you make Dan.^^ 

Peggy descended from her rocky platform 
at this instant and joined the group. She 
was wearing her workaday Camp Fire 
costume and had her dark hair braided in 
two braids with a red band about her 
forehead. 

‘^What is it, Peggy? You look as if you 
had something important to confide to us?^^ 
Mrs. Burton asked quickly, hoping to stem 
the flood of eloquence with which her 
nephew ordinarily met opposition. 
confess I am as curious as BiUy to know 
why you sounded a bugle call at this hour 
of the afternoon.’^ 

Peggy sat down in camp-fire fashion on 
the ground, frowning and looking extremely 
serious. A bunch of pale lavender sea 
verbena she had gathered nearer the shore, 
she dropped in her mother^s lap. 


THE CALL TO SERVICE 35 


She did not know what BiUy had been 
saying, but she was conscious that the 
atmosphere about her was uncomfortable. 

Dan had not moved from his patient 
attitude, in order that Sally Ashton might 
continue to unwind her wool, yet his expres- 
sion was not like his usual sweet-tempered 
one. Peggy at once surmised that BiUy was 
in some way responsible for the unrest. 

^'Perhaps my bugle call was a little 
theatrical,^’ she began; ^^nevertheless it 
was the caU to service of our new order 
of 'Camp Fire Minute Girls.’ ” 

Mrs. Burton nodded. "Yes, I remember. 
The ' Camp Fire Minute Girls ’ are to 
pledge themselves to help in winning the 
war by food conservation, by praying for 
the triumph of the right, and by economiz- 
ing in every possible way. I received a 
little booklet containing our new pledge and 
meant to speak of it to you.” 

In spite of the fact that Mrs. Burton was 
talking, she was not actually interested in 
what she was saying at the moment. 
Somewhere in the last row of her knitting 
she had dropped a stitch and while she 
spoke she was endeavoring to find it. As 


36 


BEHIND THE LINES 


head of their small Red Cross society, Mrs. 
Webster was determined that their work 
should come up to the required standard. 
Knitting was not a natural art with Mrs. 
Burton and she particularly disliked un- 
raveling her work after she supposed it 
finished. 

Peggy reached over and quietly removed 
the gray sweater from her aunt’s hands. 

^^You cannot pay attention to what any- 
one is saying and knit at the same time, 
Tante; I have seen you make the attempt 
before,” Peggy remarked persuasively, '^so 
please cease your efforts for a moment, as 
we have something of the utmost impor- 
tance to talk about. Bettina, now that I 
have prepared the way, suppose you make 
things clearer. I have not your gift of 
words.” 

“It is only that we have been talking of 
the ^Camp Fire Minute Girls’ and consider 
that we should follow the pledge very 
earnestly this summer,” Bettina began. 
“We feel that really we ought to organize 
our camp fire on a new war basis. You 
have always been so generous to us, but this 
summer we wish to use only the new war 


THE CALL TO SERVICE 37 


recipes and to save and serve in every pos- 
sible way. The advantage wiU be not only 
for the present time, but perhaps later with 
our own families. Peggy and I thought that 
we might even start a httle garden near 
our camp, as vegetables grow so quickly in 
CaUfornia. I suppose our ideas of helpful- 
ness are rather vague and foolish, but that 
is why we wished to talk the situation over 
with you and Mrs. Webster and arrange 
some definite plan.” 

Mrs. Burton nodded. An excellent idea, 
Bettina, and the sooner we Americans 
learn some method of less extravagant living 
the nearer we are to victory and the ending 
of the war. I wish I were a more apt pupil 
myself. Of course I am willing to agree 
with whatever you girls think best.” 

‘^Then we may help the soldiers in 
any way we like?” Sally Ashton inquired 
with such unexpected enthusiasm that 
everybody laughed. 

do not care for any too strikingly 
original ideas of first-aid service, Sally,” 
Mrs. Burton remonstrated. 

Billy roused himself from his recumbent 
position and leaned forward. A single 


38 


BEHIND THE LINES 


flame which had shot up from the smoulder- 
ing fire cast a glow over his colorless face. 

have been traveling with the Camp 
Fire party now for a good many weeks,” 
he remarked in the suspiciously gentle man- 
ner with which he often began his verbal 
attacks, '^and I am yet to hear one single 
word about an immediate peace. I cannot 
see what difference it will make in the end 
which coimtry is victor. What the whole 
world must attain to is justice for every 
human being. I thought women were 
supposed to be the natural peace makers.” 
Billy smiled — a, malicious little smile which 
was vaguely irritating. Women never 
have been peace makers or peace lovers. 
If they had do you suppose men would 
have continued fighting one another for- 
ever? ” 

^^But, BiUy — ” Mrs. Burton began and 
suddenly ceased. A glance at her sister^s 
face had been sufficient. 

Besides, Dan Webster, released from his 
attention to Sally, had walked over and 
stood facing his mother and brother. 

The two brothers, though, twins, were 
utterly unlike in appearance. For one 


THE CALL TO SERVICE 39 


thing, Dan was nearly six feet tall and 
splendidly built, with a vivid color and a 
suggestion of unusual physical health and 
power. 

“I am sorry. Mother,’’ he said in the voice 
he kept especially for his mother, ^'but I 
can’t stay here and listen to Billy’s nonsense 
and disloyalty. He is simply in love with 
the sound of his own voice and always has 
been. He has not the faintest understand- 
ing of the big things he talks about. I 
have stood a good deal from Billy first and 
last from the time we were children, 
because he was little and delicate and I was 
not supposed to treat him as I would have 
treated other fellows. I teU you candidly 
what Billy needs right now and what he 
always has needed is to have his head 
punched. He always has taken refuge in 
his delicacy and hidden behind women. 
He is doing the same thing now with all 
this peace talk and half-baked socialism. 
I wonder how far socialism would have 
traveled if men had never fought for their 
rights and the rights of other people? 
I wish the socialists in this country would 
think of that little fact now and then. 


40 


BEHIND THE LINES 


I suppose if no one had ever fought for 
liberty, most of us would be slaves. But I 
seem to be talking as much as Billy! It is 
only this, Mother, don’t you see that Billy 
and I cannot both remain with the Camp 
Fire party this summer? I don’t wish it to 
happen, but I am afraid if he goes on as he 
has been doing — ^and you know nothing 
ever stops him — ^why, there wiU be trouble 
between us, that is all. If you will only 
give your consent I am sure I can persuade 
father to allow me to volunteer.” 

Mrs. Webster’s eyes fiUed with tears. 
Dan was too interested in watching his 
mother to pay any attention to Billy’s 
good-natured drawl. 

“Good old Dan, there is some truth in 
what you say, I suppose. There is a little 
truth in most people’s opinions. But what 
a story-book hero you wiU make some 
day! It is all right, your rubbing it in 
about my not being as strong as other 
fellows; I suppose you don’t know that 
hurts a little.” 

“My dear Dan, I did not dream you 
could be so unreasonable!” Mrs. Webster 
returned, having finally gained sufficient 


THE CALL TO SERVICE 41 


control of her voice to speak. “You know 
perfectly well I shall never give my consent 
to your volunteering for any branch of the 
army until you have reached the draft age. 
Moreover, if you have a diflBculty with 
BiUy you know how much sorrow that 
means for me. Besides, your aunt and the 
girls and I need you here with us at our 
camp fire this summer. If I could, I would 
send Billy back to the farm instead of you, 
but he stiU needs the benefit of this southern 
climate.’^ 

Poor Mrs. Webster, like many other 
mothers, often found her children too great 
a problem for her solving. 

By this time Billy was again prostrate 
on the earth with his eyes fixed upon the 
sky and apparently perfectly serene. Even 
his mother’s statement in regard to sending 
him home had not disturbed him, although 
he and his father chronically misunderstood 
each other. 

Dan was repentant. “Sorry, Mother,” 
he said; “this was not the time or place 
for me to open this discussion with you. 
I am sure I beg everybody’s pardon.” 

Then he turned aUd walked away. 


CHAPTER IV 


The Camp and Temperamental 
Excursions 

T his summer in California for the 
first time the Sunrise camp was 
located near the sea. 

After several days of investigating the 
countryside, in the meanwhile using the 
little mission town of Capistrano as their 
headquarters, the travelers discovered what 
they considered the ideal situation further 
south along the coast. 

Near the border of one of the immense 
ranches for which southern Cahfornia is 
famous they came upon a httle stream of 
water flowing inside a channel. The chan- 
nel had been deepened in order that the 
supply might last through the dry season. 
Not far away stood a small frame house. 
In harvest times the laborers on the ranch 
occupied this small house as a lodging for 
the night when the distance made it impos- 
sible for them to return to their own homes. 

( 42 ) 


THE CAMP 


43 


By a piece of rare good fortune Mrs. 
Burton was able for almost a nominal sum 
to rent this little place for her sister and 
herself. 

The shack was lightly built, the roof 
formed of dried palm branches laid the one 
upon the other until the effect was like a 
thatched roof, although neither so warm nor 
so secure. Since it never rains during the 
summer in southern California, one requires 
only protection from the sim and wind. 
Near the house the camp-fire tents were set 
up in the form of a crescent. 

Behind them the ranch stretched on for 
miles, a thousand-acre carpet of small green 
plants. For, as Marta Clark remarked 
when they were traveling down the state, 
it appeared as if California were preparing 
to provide the world with one gigantic 
bean feast. 

Several hundreds of yards away the 
beach was silver and purple and rose with 
the sea verbena and ice plants which spread 
like a colorful embroidery over the sands. 
Here and there were tiny coves and clumps 
of rocks. 

Near the camping site there was no main 


44 


BEHIND THE LINES 


traveled road, but a small branch one 
which would improve with use. The closest 
place of human habitation was a seaside 
colony of artists, perhaps a mile or more 
beyond. 

Here Mrs. Burton was able to find a 
garage for her automobile. 

Partly because she was actually in need of 
his services and more to impress him with 
the idea, Mrs. Burton had persuaded Dan 
Webster to take charge of her car during the 
summer. As a matter of fact, aside from 
Billy, who did not always count, Dan was 
the only masculine person at the Sunrise 
camp, Mr. Jefferson Simpson having de- 
parted as casually as he originally had 
arrived, soon after the tents were set up. 

Mrs. Burton preferred being shut away 
from strangers during their holidays and 
presumed the girls shared her desire. 

Soon after their conversation about the 
camp fire a new regime of war economy was 
established at Sunrise camp. There were 
uncomfortable moments when strange dishes 
of none too appetizing a character were pro- 
duced. But always the cooks declared it 
the fault of the too particular persons who 


THE CAMP 


45 


refused to partake of them and not of the 
food itself. They did acquire new methods 
of bread making, substituting bran and com- 
meal for wheat flour which were really 
improvements on the old. Morever, the 
summer before the Indian girl, Dawapa, 
had taught the Sunrise Camp Fire members 
a number of the old Indian uses of corn. 
With perishable fruits and vegetables so 
abundant, it was unnecessary, during the 
summer at least, to suffer any real discom- 
fort from war economies. 

Now and then one of the girls would 
develop a too rigorous idea of self-denial to 
meet with the approval of her Camp Fire 
guardian. But after a time Mrs. Burton 
ceased to worry over original departures, 
permitting the girls to adjust matters for 
themselves. 

However, it is not the adjustment of mere 
material things which is the difficult prob- 
lem with human beings in living together, 
but the adjustment of one unlike nature 
with another. 

As much as possible after his open dis- 
agreement with Billy, Dan Webster en- 
deavored to avoid his brother's society. 


46 


BEHIND THE LINES 


They never had been congenial or spent 
much time together since the days when 
they were children. But at present Dan 
and Billy were sleeping in the same 
tent at night and in the daytime Billy was 
always mooning about camp insisting upon 
one of the girls listening to him. He pre- 
ferred Vera, but if she were too busy, any 
one of the other girls could substitute. 

This would have made no difference to 
Dan except that Billy blandly and serenely 
continued to expound his views upon peace 
in spite of the fact that every member of 
Sunrise camp disagreed with him. 

Hard as it was to endure, Dan’s hands 
were tied, for he had solemnly promised his 
mother not to use physical violence with 
BiUy, and nothing else would stop the flow 
of his misplaced eloquence. 

So, as Dan was an ardent fisherman, he 
used to spend days away from camp fishing 
and swimming. He was fond of the Camp 
Fire girls, especially of Marta Clark and of 
Sally Ashton, but he could not endure too 
large a diet of exclusively feminine society. 
Moreover, Dan was too accomplished an 
athlete and too fine a fellow aU round not 


THE CAMP 


47 


to make friends wherever he went among 
men. 

One afternoon it chanced that Dan was 
alone and preparing to go in swimming at 
a rather dangerous point about three miles 
below Sunrise camp. 

The spot was deserted and Dan was 
beginning to undress when he became con- 
scious of the uncomfortable sensation that 
some one at no great distance off was 
watching him. 

Glancing about, Dan discovered the calm 
figure of his brother standing only a few 
yards away when he had sincerely hoped 
that at least several miles separated them. 

In reply to Billy’^s friendly hello, his 
brother returned no answer. Nevertheless 
Billy strolled quietly across the space 
between them, taking a seat on the rocky 
cliff, apparently as cheerful and undis- 
turbed as if he considered himself a welcome 
interruption. 

Better not go in swimming from this 
cliff, Dan; this place looks pretty unsafe. 
The waves are so violent you might be 
thrown against the rocks,’’ he began, offer- 
ing his entirely unsolicited advice in the 
most affable manner. 


48 


BEHIND THE LINES 


As a matter of fact, upon most occasions, 
Dan Webster was rather unusually sweet 
tempered. But at present, because of his 
own disappointment over not being allowed 
to volunteer for some branch of war service, 
and because of what he considered his 
brother’s disloyal opinions, the very sight of 
BiUy enraged him. 

Billy Webster, I wonder if you are a 
coward about every mortal thing? I sup- 
pose you understand that cowardice is 
what I believe lies at the back of your 
pacifism. I suppose it is natural to wish 
to call an ugly fact by a pretty name. 
Besides, it is a lot pleasanter and easier 
to talk about the beauty and sacred- 
ness of peace and the rights of men than 
to fight and die for them. But please don’t 
trouble about me and run along back to 
camp. I don’t want to go into this subject 
with you again as I came away largely to 
get rid of your society.” Dan made an 
effort to speak quietly. 

^'All right. I’ll be off in a moment; don’t 
wish to worry you,” Billy agreed, and, except 
for a slight flush which Dan did not observe, 
he appeared unmoved. ^^Do you know I 


THE CAMP 


49 


am glad you reopened this subject. Ever 
since you spoke of the same thing the other 
day I have been wondering if what you said 
M^as true and I am a pacifist because I am a 
physical coward. Of course I know I am 
afraid of a lot of things that don’t frighten 
you, but I believe you are mistaken 
about this business, Dan. If I were up 
against a stiff proposition I might still be 
afraid and yet go through with it. My 
feeling about peace really has nothing to do 
with the part I may some day be called 
upon to play in this war, a pretty poor part 
at best I expect. I wish you would believe 
this if you can. But good-by; I am off.” 

Then, before Dan could make any re- 
sponse, Billy moved away. Once out of 
sight, he lay down upon the beach with his 
head propped on his slender hands, keeping 
a watchful outlook upon Dan, who was 
swimming nearly a mile out from the shore. 
When Dan had finished and climbed back 
up the cliff, then only did Billy set out for 
Sunrise camp. 

There were also temperamental diffi- 
culties, needing adjustment among the Camp 
Fire girls. 


50 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Frankly, both Sally Ashton and Gerry 
Williams had been bored by their long 
journey down the Cahfomia coast and their 
many pilgrimages to the old Spanish mis- 
sions along their route. With their natures 
it was impossible for either of them to under- 
stand how any human being could obtain a 
great deal of pleasure from mere scenery and 
what persons were pleased to caU romantic 
atmosphere. To SaUy and Gerry romance 
took shape in a very different guise. 

During the , trip they were at least 
sustained by the hope that, once settled in 
their summer camp, they would begin mak- 
ing agreeable acquaintances, notwithstand- 
ing, up to the present time. Sunrise camp 
had developed about as many social oppor- 
tunities as a desert island. 

Therefore, one morning, with the per- 
fectly definite plan of going forth in search 
of adventure, SaUy and Gerry set out upon 
a little temperamental excursion. 


CHAPTER V 


Abalone Shells 

TER their summer holiday together 



at the Grand Canyon the Sunrise 


^ ^ Camp Fire girls had been separated 
during the previous winter, returning to 
their own homes. Nevertheless, they kept 
in touch with one another and, as a matter of 
fact, among the seven girls only Gerry 
Williams^ history had remained a mystery 
to the others. 

From the moment of her appearance upon 
the west-bound train with Mrs. Burton, 
who had introduced her as the new member 
of their Camp Fire group, not a word had 
been spoken concerning Gerry^s past. Mrs. 
Burton must have regarded her friendship 
as a sufficient guarantee, since ever after- 
wards she and Gerry had continued equally 
reticent, not even confiding under what 
circumstances they originally had learned to 
know each other. 

Naturally such secrecy aroused a certain 


( 51 ) 


52 


BEHIND THE LINES 


degree of curiosity, and now and then one 
of the Camp Fire girls would ask Gerry a 
question, thinking her answer must betray 
some small fact in her past. But either she 
would evade the question or else politely 
decline to answer. 

She was poor — no one could continue 
blind to this actuality — but whether her 
parents were living or dead, whether she 
had any other relatives, no one could find 
out from Gerry herself or from her Camp 
Fire guardian. 

In truth, Gerry made no effort to conceal 
how intensely disagreeable she considered 
a lack of money, freely announcing that 
poverty always had been the bane of her 
past existence and that she asked nothing 
more from the future than to be safely 
delivered from it. 

Occasionally some one would whisper- 
ingly question whether Mrs. Burton would 
continue her bounty to Gerry when the 
Camp Fire holidays were over; yet no one 
had sufficiently bad taste to make this 
inquiry. Mrs. Webster knew no more than 
the others. She made no effort to keep up 
with her Sister Polly^s many generosities, 


ABALONE SHELLS 


53 


which were frequently as erratic as the lady 
herself. Only to her husband would Mrs. 
Burton confide the extent of her efforts to 
help other people. She preferred doing 
things in her own way. 

One circumstance was freely discussed 
between Mrs. Burton and her prot4g6^. 
During the past winter Gerry had developed 
a desire to study art and Mrs. Burton had 
arranged for her lessons. Yet Gerry made 
no pretense of having any especial talent or 
of being very deeply interested in her work. 
She was also frank in stating that she did 
not care a great deal for the outdoor camp- 
ing life, aside from the fact that Mrs. 
Burton considered the infiuence of living 
with the other Camp Fire girls of value to 
her. The great attraction in the experience 
for Gerry, as she freely stated, w^as the 
opportunity it offered to be near her famous 
friend. 

Nevertheless, after a winter’s study at 
the Art Institute in Chicago, Gerry had 
learned to make pretty outdoor studies of 
flowers and other small objects. She had a 
good deal of feeling for color and design, 
which she declared due to her interest in 


54 


BEHIND THE LINES 


clothes. Her Camp Fire guardian encour- 
aged her attention to art as much as possi- 
ble, often excusing Gerry from everyday 
tasks, that she might give more time to her 
sketching. 

Just why she should be thus favored the 
other Camp Fire girls did not understand, 
yet Gerry appreciated the reason. 

Also less was always expected of her, and 
her weaknesses were more readily forgiven. 
The one foolish act of revenge upon Bettina 
had caused the only serious difficulty with 
her Camp Fire guardian, and apparently 
even this had been forgotten. 

On the morning of their excursion Gerry 
had announced that she wished to spend the 
day sketching along the coast and that 
SaUy had been kind enough to agree to 
accompany her. 

The greater part of the time the two girls 
were extremely intimate and if now and 
then a slight coolness arose between them 
it never continued long, as they had too 
many common bonds of interest. 

Both girls were charmingly pretty and an 
entire contrast. Sally Ashton’s eyes and 
hair were brown, her lips full with an up- 


ABALONE SHELLS 


55 


ward curve and her skin, which the sun and 
wind never seemed to tan, as soft and white 
as a baby’s. She was small and plump 
and her figure had no angles. 

One might have been deluded by Sally’s 
yielding and feminine appearance into the 
impression that she could be easily in- 
fiuenced by stronger natures than her own. 
The fact is that Sally was never really 
influenced except when she chose to be. 

Realizing this, Mrs. Burton made no 
effort to interrupt her friendship with 
Gerry Williams, which was just as well 
since nothing is more difficult than to inter- 
fere with a friendship between two girls 
who feel a mutual attraction and see each 
other frequently. 

Gerry Williams’ prettiness was of a 
more unusual character. She had the 
delicate fairness which one so rarely sees 
in its perfection. Her hair was a pale 
gold, yet the gold was undeniably there. 
Her eyes were light blue and held the 
clearness, the indelible, transparent blue- 
ness of certain pieces of rare old china. 
Her small head was set upon a rather long 
fair throat and as she walked with a peculiar 


56 


BEHIND THE LINES 


lightness and grace it was almost as if she 
might at any moment break into dancing 
steps. About Gerry ^s nature there were 
elements which were frankly commonplace, 
nevertheless her appearance suggested one 
of the dancing figures upon an ancient 
Greek frieze. 

This morning she and Sally wore their 
everyday Camp Fire costumes, and because 
it was cool their Navajo sweater coats, 
Gerry^s a bright scarlet and Sally’s an 
Oxford blue. They intended being away 
alii day, and besides Gerry’s sketching out- 
fit they carried their luncheon. 

The girls had chosen to go in the direction 
of the artists’ colony only a few miles away. 
Over both the water and land there was 
the haze of the early hours at the seaside, 
and yet the mist was only a light one and 
more agreeable than the hot sun which 
would come later in the day. 

The land was gay with flowers. On the 
hillside there were tall bunches of cacti, 
one variety bearing a bright yellow flower 
like a silken poppy. The ordinary jimson 
weed grew so large that each blossom looked 
like a great white lily. 


ABALONE SHELLS 


57 


On the side toward the beach the tiny 
beads of water glistening amid the rose 
color of the ice plants shone like tiny 
fairy jewels. 

Past the groups of houses which pre- 
sumably sheltered famous artists as well 
as amateurs, perhaps with no more ability 
than Gerry, the two girls wandered on, 
absorbed in their own conversation. 

They were not especially disappointed at 
finding no one in the neighborhood of the 
colony who seemed to be of interest. There 
were three or four girls idling in one of the 
yards who stared curiously as the Camp 
Fire girls passed, but Sally and Gerry paid 
but slight attention to them in return, 
having previously confessed to each other 
that they were a little tired of so much 
feminine society. 

A tall old gentleman with a white, closely 
trimmed beard strode by, carrying a large 
canvas under his arm. He frowned por- 
tentously, as if he would have the girls' 
appreciate that he was a genius in the grasp 
of a creative impulse and so must not be 
disturbed. Neither Sally nor Gerry had 
the faintest impulse toward disturbing him, 


58 


BEHIND THE LINES 


yet his appearance suggested a train of 
thought to Sally. 

'^I wonder, Gerry, why you decided so 
suddenly that you wished to study art?^' 
she said. Until this summer I have never 
even heard you mention the subject. Do 
you intend making a business of it some 
day? You wonT mind my speaking of this, 
but you have always said you had to do 
something or other to make your own 
living.^’ 

Instead of replying at once Gerry hum- 
med the first line of a song, also moving on 
so quickly that Sally, who was averse to 
violent exercise, had difficulty in keeping up 
with her. 

'^Certainly not, Sally,^^ she answered 
finally. ^‘Besides, if I ever should develop 
such a foolish idea, who do you think w'ould 
buy my silly little pictures, except perhaps 
Mrs. Burton? I do wish she were my real 
aunt; I am oftentimes jealous of Peggy. 
But really I began studying art last winter 
chiefly on her account. She insisted that I 
should not idle away aU my time, so I 
concluded that I would prefer being an 
art student to attending a regular school. 


ABALONE SHELLS 


59 


Mrs. Burton was delighted, because she 
thinks it would be a good plan for me to 
become a dressmaker or a designer. I am 
so fond of clothes and she believes the art 
lessons will be of value to my future work. 
However, my dear Sally, nothing is further 
from my own expectations. You and I for 
different reasons must make marriage our 
career. You were created for domesticity 
and I, well, I simply must marry some one 
with money. I used to hope that Mrs. 
Burton might do a great deal for me some 
day, before I knew about her own family 
and her Camp Fire group. Now I realize 
that she only intends helping me to help 
myself, as the highly moral phrase goes.” 

“But haven’t you any people of your 
own, or any close friends? ” Sally demanded 
with the persistency which belonged to her 
disposition. Half a dozen times before 
she had asked this same question without 
receiving a satisfactory reply. 

Gerry only laughed good naturedly. 
Sally’s curiosity amused her. 

“ATo people and no friends I care to talk 
about, my dear. You know I have told 
you this several times before.” 


60 


BEHIND THE LINES 


In spite of the fact that by this time the 
girls had walked for three or four miles, 
up until now Gerry had not suggested sitting 
down to begin her sketching. At this 
moment she moved over to the edge of a 
cliff, glancing down at the beach below. 

Come, Sally, see what a fascinating place 
I have discovered. Suppose we climb down 
to the beach; you must be tired and I may 
be able to work for a little while. I do want 
to have something to show Mrs. Burton as 
a result of our day.” 

On the beach the girls saw a little wooden 
hut with a huge kettle filled with boiling 
water standing before the door. Half a 
mile or more out in the ocean two Japanese 
fishermen were diving for the famous aba- 
lone shells, while on the sands a dozen of the 
shells, having been thoroughly cleansed, 
now lay drying in the sun; their inner sur- 
faces of mother-of-pearl held all the colors 
of the dawn. 


CHAPTER VI 


Own Will Come to 

W HETHER consciously or uncon- 
sciously, the thing we most desire 
in this world will come to us in 

the end. 

Rather precipitately Sally and Gerry 
climbed down the side of the cliff to the 
beach. The way was steep and now and 
then Sally had to be encouraged and assisted 
until both girls finallj^ arrived on the sands 
a little out of breath. 

The beach stretched on further than one 
could see, a pale golden carpet now that the 
mists were clearing. It was divided at 
this point by a narrow gully. On one side 
of the gully were uneven platforms of 
rocks and between these rocks ran little 
streams of salt water from the ocean, 
creating tiny tidal lakes and rivulets. 

Up and down these rocks, sometimes dis- 
appearing inside the water, at others cling- 
ing perilously above its edge, or hiding 
( 61 ) 


62 


BEHIND THE LINES 


behind sprays of sea lichen or fern, were 
innumerable small sea monsters. At times 
the sides of the rocks were alive with hun- 
dreds, even thousands, of tiny crabs; then 
one single imexpected noise and off they 
scuttled like an army, not in dignified 
retreat but in utter rout. 

The girls having descended the cliff, 
rested for a few moments and then wandered 
along these ledges. They were not of a 
dangerous character, for most of the stones 
were flat and not too far apart to be safely 
crossed. 

Yet they walked slowly. Occasionally 
they stopped to watch two fishermen at 
work. The men were Japanese divers, and 
it was fascinating to see them swim with 
quiet, even strokes out into the deep water 
and then dive down heads first to remain 
under a terrifying length of time. Yet as 
each man rose again usually he had secured 
one or more of the large abalone shells. 

In spite of their interest, Sally Ashton 
pleaded that they remain at a safe distance 
from the two men. As a matter of fact, 
Sally frequently suffered from the small 
timidities which belonged to her particular 


MY OWN WILL COME TO ME^’ 63 


type of intensely feminine character. Al- 
though not in the least timid herself, Gerry 
agreed, it being a wise custom of hers to 
give way to her companion in unimportant 
matters. Moreover, she really intended 
working seriously for a few hours. Now 
that she and SaUy were both weary, this 
sheltered place along the beach would be as 
suitable as any other to begin her painting. 

Finding a comfortable surface of clean 
sand on a broad ledge of rock, with other 
rocks in the background, Gerry sat down. 
Here there was less wind than in other 
places and suiBScient room for SaUy to lie 
close beside her. 

At about the correct distance away, a 
small boat moored to some hidden anchor 
moved back and forth with the movement 
of the waves. 

This boat appeared a suitable subject to 
Gerry for her sketch. She had no idea of 
making a success of so ambitious a subject, 
but since all that Mrs. Burton asked of her 
was industry and not high artistry, Gerry 
was willing to work now and then. She 
really did wish to please her Camp Fire 
guardian, and if her motives were a little 


64 


BEHIND THE LINES 


mixed and not all of them of the noblest 
character, well, there are others of us in 
this world who have mixed motives beside 
Gerry Williams! 

After the first few moments of settling 
down to her task, Gerry began to feel mildly 
interested in her effort. 

Her surroundings were in themselves an 
inspiration. 

Nearby, and using her friend’s crimson 
sweater as a pillow, Sally Ashton had curled 
herself up in the sunshine. She was wear- 
ing her own blue one for warmth. There 
was but little breeze stirring and the sun 
had grown suddenly hot, but Sally had a 
passionate affection for warmth. She had 
also an endless capacity for sleeping when 
there was nothing of interest in life to make 
wakefulness worth while. 

For a few moments she watched Gerry at 
work, thinking she had never seen her look 
so pretty or labor so industriously. Then 
Sally viewed the small boat whose con- 
tinuous movement impressed her like the 
sleepy swaying of a cradle. Afterwards she 
fell into a state of semi-conscious dreaming. 

But Gerry kept on with her sketching 


OWN WILL COME TO 65 


certainly for more than an hour. By the 
end of that time she was surprised to find 
what a lovely sketch she had made. In 
spite of the fact that her boat was out of 
drawing, the color in her sky line was 
beautiful and the waves of the sea suggested 
real water and a real ocean. 

After gazing at her painting with wholly 
unexpected admiration, Gerry put it care- 
fully away in her sketch book. She was 
feeling a little tired, but her act was in- 
spired more by discretion than weariness. 
To work upon her sketch any longer would 
probably destroy the value it at present 
possessed and Mrs. Burton would be pleased 
by her success. 

Believing Sally to be fast asleep and not 
wishing to disturb her for a time, Gerry, 
leaning forward and resting her chin on her 
two folded hands, fell to dreaming. 

For the past ten days or more, ever since 
her arrival in southern California, it seemed 
to Gerry Williams that never had her 
dreams and her desires been so insistent. 
She did not know that this was the in- 
fluence of the semi-tropical climate upon her 
physical and spiritual development. 


66 


BEHIND THE LINES 


In truth, Gerry’s past life had been a 
trying one and there was no reason why she 
should have been content with it, or why she 
should not hope for a happier future. 

These summers in Arcady with Mrs. 
Burton — for they had been as summers in 
Arcady to the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire 
girls — had been the fairest experiences in 
Gerry’s history. Yet she professed no 
ardent love for the outdoors as the other 
girls did. Neither was she so young as 
some of them, since within a few weeks she 
would be eighteen. 

There would be other summers to come, 
Gerry realized, when she would not be Mrs. 
Burton’s guest. Indeed, the Camp Fire 
guardian had frankly stated that if the war 
continued they would not be able to have 
their holidays together. In the future she 
must devote her money, her time and her 
energy to war service. 

So today, looking out over the water, 
but now that her sketching was over, no 
longer interested in the view, Gerry faced 
what seemed to her an interminable number 
of lonely summers and winters and springs 
and autumns. In her earlier acquaintance 


OWN WILL COME TO 67 


with Mrs. Burton, when the great lady had 
revealed an unexpected interest in her, 
Gerry, as she had lately confessed to Sally 
Ashton, had dreamed impossible dreams. 
In those days she had imagined herself as 
Mrs. Burton^s ward, living in her home, or 
traveling about with her over the world 
meeting rich and famous people. 

Then at the last Gerry’s vision had 
always been a wealthy marriage. A foolish 
dream perhaps, and yet not original or 
uncommon! 

She did not think of her marriage as 
bringing her love or spiritual happiness, 
only wealth and social prominence. But 
at this time in her life Gerry of course 
believed that the last two possessions repre- 
sented the character of happiness she 
sought. 

Having awakened to reality with regard 
to Mrs. Burton’s attitude, appreciating that 
she felt for her only a kindly interest and a 
moderate affection, Gerry was the more 
intent upon discovering some immediate 
solution for her own future. 

From this summer in California she had 
hoped a great deal. She had thought 


68 


BEHIND THE LINES 


through Mrs. Burton^s prominence that it 
might be possible to make wealthy and 
worth-while friends. Now it appeared that 
the Camp Fire guardian intended to have 
her group of girls spend a secluded summer, 
deriving their entertainment from their life 
together outdoors in this beautiful place. 

In consequence Gerry was deeply dis- 
appointed. Today she felt that the 
prospect ahead was dreary and dissatisfy- 
ing. Mrs. Burton expected her to work and 
had no notion of assisting her toward any 
other fate. She had made her own way 
in the world and believed that work brought 
one the finest satisfaction. But Gerry 
recognized her own commonplaceness and 
understood that unconsciously Mrs. Burton 
was not altogether fair. Of course, if one 
possessed great talent, then work lifted you 
above dullness and routine, brought you 
beauty and joy. Yet she could only picture 
herself pursuing some stupid task, since she 
had neither education nor especial ability 
in any direction. Her only gifts, pret- 
tiness and her desire for the rejBnements 
of life which always had been denied her, 
little in truth to offer when there was no 
one to help! 


OWN WILL COME TO 69 


Then, intending to banish her attack of 
blues, Gerry jumped up hurriedly. As she 
did so she noticed the two Japanese divers. 
They had left their work and had come 
softly over the sands until at the present 
moment they were only a few feet off. They 
were talking in excited voices, holding up 
the deep-bowled abalone shells, now pol- 
ished and shining, and evidently trying to 
attract attention. 

For an instant Gerry was puzzled. Then, 
before she could speak or even stir again, 
Sally, startled from sleep, also leaped to her 
feet. She may have been frightened by 
Gerry^s sudden movement and now, catch- 
ing sight of the Japanese fishermen, may 
have been under the impression that they 
had frightened Gerry. Whatever the cause, 
with an exclamation of terror, she started 
running, uttering funny little cries of alarm. 

First Gerry merely called out reassur- 
ingly, then, perceiving that Sally would not 
stop, she ran after her. 

Sally was awkward; she kept stumbling 
and sliding over the ledges of rock, making 
no effort to be sure of her foothold or to 
choose the easiest way. In the beginning 


70 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Gerry was amused, then she grew a little 
nervous. Sally was always the least athletic 
of the Camp Fire girls. 

^'Do be careful; the men are only trying 
to sell us their shells. They have no idea 
of frightening you,” Gerry expostulated. 

She expected to reach Sally in time to 
keep her from injuring herself. But sud- 
denly Sally gave an exclamation both of 
fright and pain; having made a false 
estimate of the space between two ledges of 
rock, she found herself falling into a small 
ravine. 

The ravine was not deep; nevertheless 
Sally^s rescue was not simple, since she 
would not help herself. Finally Gerry had 
to summon to her assistance the two 
Japanese, who had innocently caused the 
catastrophe. At last a bruised and tearful 
Sally was deposited upon a comfortable 
resting place. But here Sally declared she 
must remain indefinitely, as she was ^^far 
too seriously hurt ever to walk again.” 

The situation was trying, and Gerry was 
at her wits^ end till one small inspiration 
came to her. Since food had ever a reviving 
effect upon Sally, they could have their 


OWN WILL COME TO ME” 71 


luncheon and perhaps afterwards she would 
feel stronger. 

But although her appetite remained un- 
affected by her accident, the afternoon wore 
on with Sally still insisting that she could 
not stir one step. Moreover, any suggestion 
of Gerry’s leaving to find help always re- 
duced her to tears. 

Yet something must be done ! 

Long ago the little Japanese fishermen 
had returned to their tasks. Sitting cross- 
legged on the sand at some distance off, 
Gerry could see them patiently at work 
cleaning and polishing their shells. She 
remembered that they had seemed to under- 
stand what she had said, although speaking 
only a few English words. 

Walking over to them Gerry as simply as 
possible presented their predicament. 

When she had finished speaking the small 
bright-eyed men glanced at each other and 
nodded. 

^^AUe-ight,” one of them answered for 
both. 

Then off they trotted, this time dis- 
appearing inside their small hut. Next 
moment they returned carrying on their 


72 


BEHIND THE LINES 


shoulders a flat straw basket set upon two 
long poles. It was scarcely a basket, so 
much as a woven straw mat, which the 
divers probably used at odd times for trans- 
porting their sea merchandise. 

Ultimately Sally was persuaded to allow 
herself to be hoisted upon this mat, which 
was fairly strong since it suffered her weight. 
Then the two little men bore her off, swing- 
ing easily between them. They ran lightly 
from rock to rock until climbing up the 
cliff they reached the road at the summit, 
with Gerry following as swiftly as possible. 

They had arranged not to attempt to 
carry Sally to camp but to some place 
nearer at hand, where she could receive aid. 

Originally when they had made this 
plan it appeared to Gerry as a reasonable 
one and not one to cause anxiety. Now as 
she pursued the two strange little men, 
who were carrying Sally with such ease 
and quickness to a perfectly unknown desti- 
nation she had a curious sensation more of 
bewilderment than fear. 

However, one had to keep moving so 
rapidly that there was small opportunity for 
olear thinking. 


OWN WILL COME TO 73 


Leaving the main road, the little men 
struck into another, which went first up a 
bare brown hiU and then down again. The 
second hiU was green with a crop of the 
ever-present beans. 

Finally they climbed to the top of a 
mesa and brought Sally to a resting place 
before a clump of dusty, gray-green pepper 
trees. 

On their left was a hedge of untrimmed 
shrubs and in front an open court. Beyond 
stood an old Spanish ranch house. 

After whispering together, one of the little 
men rang a bell, which hung on a stand out- 
side this court. 

A few moments later a Japanese servant 
appeared and the three men spoke to one 
another in Japanese. Then the servant 
turned away. 

It was all very unusual and puzzling. 
Before Sally and Gerry could be over- 
whelmed by uneasiness, to their relief they 
observed an older man and two young men 
approaching. They were obviously gentle- 
men, and one of them Gerry thought the 
most attractive fellow she had ever seen in 
her life. Yet he did not look like an 





OWN WILL COME TO 75 


American, but what her imagination had 
pictured as a Spaniard. He must have 
been about twenty-two or three and pos- 
sessed unusually dark hair and eyes and skin. 

When Gerry had explained their difficulty 
and apologized for their intrusion, their 
host led the way through the outer court 
into the enclosed one. 

Sally continued to be borne aloft like a 
foreign princess upon the shoulders of her 
faithful Caryatids. 

The inside court was a miniature fairy- 
land. 

Like all really old Spanish ranch houses, 
this house was built in the form of a square 
with the garden in the center. It was of one 
story with the veranda also on the inside 
and running the entire length of the house. 

In days long past this veranda would 
have been fiUed with people, for when the 
Spanish ranch houses were the center of 
California’s social life all the play and work 
of the Spanish families, their friends and 
servants took place outdoors. 

Now the two Camp Fire girls saw no cne 
save their hosts and the one man servant ; 
there was no faintest suggestion of the 
presence of a woman 


76 


BEHIND THE LINES 


The place looked old and ramshackle, as 
if its owners had preferred to enjoy life 
rather than to improve their estate. Even 
the enclosed garden, notwithstanding it 
was a sheer glory of flowers, showed 
neglect. A bougainvillea vine had been 
allowed to grow so large that it covered 
one-third of the veranda, hanging like a 
flowery canopy above one portion of the 
garden. Along the paths oleanders were 
set out in unpainted wooden tubs and the 
rose bushes had gone so long untrimmed 
that they were now of great size and 
covered with tiny white and yellow flowers. 

Once this garden had been carefully 
planned and cared for, yet, perhaps, at pres- 
ent it held an even deeper charm. 

Naturally, soon after their arrival their 
host, Mr. Philip Morris, had introduced 
himself and his younger companions, and 
Gerry Williams had given her own and 
Sally’s name. Gerry also had explained the 
circumstances of Sally’s accident and the 
fact that they were members of a camping 
party who were spending the summer on the 
California coast. 

The young man who had originally 


OWN WILL COME TO 77 


attracted her attention proved to be the 
son of Mr. Morris. In introducing him the 
father accorded the Spanish pronunciation 
to his name, Felipe,’^ which he had not 
used with his own. 

Later it developed that Felipe^s mother 
had been Spanish and the old ranch the 
property of her family from the days when 
California was a province of Spain. But 
as she was dead it was true that at 
present no woman was a member of their 
household. 

The other young fellow, Merton Ander- 
son, was the son of a neighbor and a guest. 
As he had ridden over to the Morris ranch 
on horseback he offered to take back any 
message Sally and Gerry might care to send 
their friends, for Mr. Morris insisted that 
Sally must not be moved again until she 
had seen a physician. 

At last Gerry wrote a note to Mrs. 
Burton explaining what had occurred 
and asking advice. If it were possible 
would she not drive over to the ranch in 
her automobile and bear Sally safely back 
to camp? 


CHAPTER VII 


The Sacrifice of Youth 
"^OUT ten o’clock on the evening of 



the same day Mrs. Burton and Mr. 


^ Morris were sitting before the open 
door of the old Spanish house looking out 
over the countryside. 

In the neighborhood of the California 
coast the moonlight has a rare brilliancy. 
The mists of the early morning and late 
afternoons usually disappear and seem to 
float overhead in white and silver clouds. 

''You are very kind to allow us to impose 
upon your hospitality in this fashion, Mr. 
Morris,” Mrs. Burton declared, in the 
voice whose rare quality gave even to her 
ordinary statements a charm beyond other 
persons. "I don’t believe I have ever seen 
so beautiful a view in California as I am 
having from your house tonight, and yet a 
few hours ago I would not have believed this 
possible.” 

Immediately upon receipt of Gerry Wil- 


( 78 ) 


THE SACRIFICE OF YOUTH 79 


liams’ note Mrs. Burton had motored over 
to the Morris ranch, using Merton Anderson 
as her guide. She was anxious, of course, in 
regard to SaUy^s injuries, but anxious also 
to learn the character of her rescuers. Nat- 
urally the girls could not be allowed to 
remain alone over night with strangers. 
Unless SaUy were in a reaUy critical con- 
dition, she could certainly be moved with- 
out danger. 

Within a few minutes after Mrs. Burton^s 
arrival at the ranch, the physician who had 
been telephoned for some time before, 
appeared in answer to the summons. 

After seeing Sally he announced that she 
was not seriously hurt, only bruised and 
shaken, and could be moved without diffi- 
culty. Despite this assurance, the two 
girls and Mrs. Burton were spending the 
night at the ranch. 

'^I don’t believe you appreciate, Mrs. 
Burton, how great a pleasure and an honor 
your presence in our home is both to my 
son and me. We are so far out of the world 
and with no women in our family are often 
extremely lonely. However, we are not so 
remote that we have not heard of Mrs. 
Burton’s distinguished reputation.” 


80 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Mr. Morris spoke with an old-fashioned 
courtesy and admiration which no one could 
fail to appreciate. 

His guest preferred not to talk of her 
professional life during her summer holidays 
with the Camp Fire girls. 

^^At least I am sure we shall never 
forget our own pleasure/’ Mrs. Burton 
returned. '‘The fact of the matter was I 
discovered at once that SaUy and Gerry 
were determined upon remaining as soon 
as you and your son were kind enough to 
invite us. It is my private belief that 
Sally even pretended to be more seriously 
hurt in order to influence my decision. 
She appears to be enjoying the r61e of in- 
jured heroine, and yet I can scarcely criti- 
cise the girls, as I did not require a great 
deal of persuasion.” 

As a matter of fact, soon after her 
arrival she also had fallen a victim to the 
beauty and //romantic aspect of the old 
Spanish estate and to the charm and 
hospitality of its owners. Moreover, Mrs. 
Burton realized that Mr. Morris and his son 
were sincerely desirous of having them as 
guests. Their invitation had not been 


THE SACRIFICE OF YOUTH 81 


merely a conventional one and the old house 
seemed to possess an almost indefinite num- 
ber of shabby bedrooms. 

With an expressive gesture of her hands 
Mrs. Burton suddenly arose and walked 
with her host to the edge of the hill which 
sloped down from the front of his house. 

'^You are not very far out of the world 
when, as you teU me, the new National 
Guard camp is being built on the broad mesa 
below you. Is it where I see the little row 
of lights? Wherever our soldiers are is the 
only world that is of much importance these 
days! I am to drive over soon and see 
the new cantonment. My Camp Fire 
girls and I are anxious to find out if we can 
be of the least possible service. Recently, 
for the first time in my life, there have 
been moments when I was sorry to be a 
woman/^ 

^^And yet it is a sadder thing to be an 
old man, Mrs. Burton. I offered my ser- 
vices at the beginning, but I am past sixty 
and — ^well — ^well, they were right, of course; 
I am not a trained soldier and not even a 
competent business man and I should only 
have been a nuisance.^' 


82 


BEHIND THE LINES 


In the impetuous fashion which had 
always been characteristic of her girlhood 
as PoUy O^Neill and which she had never 
lost, Mrs. Burton turned around. 

‘'Yes, it is hard. Women are not soldiers 
at heart, in spite of those thrilling Russian 
women and their great ‘Battalion of Death.’ 
We are not intended for the actual fighting 
and can only do our work behind the lines 
until the world is purified forever from the 
scourge of war. But you have your son 
to take your place.” 

For a few moments Mr. Morris made no 
reply. Then he replied slowly in a tone of 
hesitation and of embarrassment: 

“I wonder if you will allow me to make a 
confidant of you? I am in great trouble, 
Mrs. Burton, and although we were stran- 
gers before this evening I know your life 
must have taught you to understand human 
nature. My son does not wish to enter the 
war. I tried to persuade him to volunteer. 
He refused. Now the draft has come and 
his number has been called, he is still mak- 
ing every effort to escape military service, 
pleading exemption upon entirely unneces- 
sary grounds. The fact is inexplicable to 


THE SACRIFICE OF YOUTH 83 


me. When my son was born my wife and 
I were no longer young and she died a short 
time after. Felipe has grown up here with 
me, with his friends and his flowers and his 
music, to which he is sincerely devoted, and 
nothing has ever been required of him. 
I knew he was indolent and selflsh perhaps, 
but until jhe United States <entered the war 
I failed to appreciate that Felipe was not 
a man. Another circumstance which has 
added to our difiiculty, instead of clearing it 
away, is that Felipe and I have recently 
inherited a large sum of money. Until 
recently, as our home must have revealed to 
you, we have been poor and not very industri- 
ous. Now our inheritance has made my son 
more than ever eager for a life of ease and 
pleasure. He has been planning to flx up 
the old place until it looks as it did many 
years ago. He wishes also to study singing, 
as he has a really beautiful voice, and has 
been talking of going to Spain, now that 
the other European countries are at present 
out of the question. You can see I scarcely 
know what to do. Felipe's exemption 
claim is almost sure to be denied, and yet 
I cannot discuss the matter with our friends 


84 


BEHIND THE LINES 


and neighbors. I do not wish to prejudice 
them against my boy. What is it I can do, 
Mrs. Burton, when I confess to you that I 
appear to have no influence with my son 
upon the subject of his responsibility to his 
country? ” 

Mrs. Burton continued looking down 
upon the extraordinary view. 

The hiUs toward the east were black and 
eerie, the sea to the west a shining mirror, 
with the valleys like shadows in between. 

‘^Mr. Morris, I wish you and your son 
would come over to our camp some day 
soon,’^ she remarked later with apparent 
irrelevance. ^'Of course I wish you to 
know my sister, but I should also like you 
to meet her sons. One of them, Dan 
Webster, is one of the finest type of Ameri- 
can boys. He is strong and clean and good 
looking and has no dearer wish in life than 
to be allowed to volunteer. In another 
year I presume my sister will be forced to 
give her consent — Dan is only seventeen at 
present. My other nephew, Billy — ^well, 
I hardly know how to describe Billy, 
because he is like no other human being I 
have ever known. He is one of the most 


THE SACRIFICE OF YOUTH 85 


impossible and obstinate boys in the world, 
and one never knows from one moment to 
the next what he is going to do or say. 
At present he is the trial of all our lives at 
Sunrise camp; he has proclaimed himself a 
pacifist, and feels called upon to convert 
everybody he meets. He is filled with 
Tolstoi’s beautiful theories of universal 
peace. As he is still too young for the 
draft his ideas so far have not proved a 
serious menace, and yet I worry over him 
a good deal. Nevertheless, do you know I 
am not sure Billy would not be as heroic as 
Dan if the test ever comes and he is once 
convinced peace can only follow the tragic 
sacrifice of war. 

^^I am not saying all this to you, Mr. 
Morris, because I am unsympathetic about 
your son. It is perhaps because I believe 
I may understand his attitude. Forgive 
me if you do not agree with me, but I 
wonder if we older people are fully appre- 
ciating what tremendous sacrifices this war 
is demanding of youth. We have no right 
to expect all of them to give up their 
individual hopes and dreams for the future 
without hesitating and without flinching. 


86 


BEHIND THE LINES 


They cannot all be made of the blood of 
heroes. The amazing fact is that so many 
of them have been. Personally I cannot 
help being a little sorry for your son. He 
will do the right thing In time, I am sure, 
but it cannot be easy to surrender this 
exquisite home and his ambition for a 
musical life. Felipe is probably afficted 
with the artistic temperament, or else 
inspired by it, and the ways of the artistic 
temperament are past finding out,^^ Mrs. 
Burton concluded, endeavoring to add a 
somewhat lighter tone to the conversation. 

Her host shook his head gravely. 

''You are very kind, Madame, and yet I 
am afraid I cannot accept your defense of 
my son. His ancestors were Spanish ad- 
venturers and soldiers and my own fought 
with Washington. However, I shall be 
delighted to visit your camp. One of the 
many reasons I wished to persuade you to 
remain over night with us was in order that 
Felipe might learn to know the girls who 
are with you. I fancied that he was imme- 
diately interested in one of them. Perhaps 
later she may prove an inspiration, a spur 
to him. American girls must have no 


THE SACRIFICE OF YOUTH 87 


patience with slackers these days. But 
suppose we cease talking about the war 
which haunts us all so everlastingly. WonT 
you walk with me and look at some of the 
other views about the old place by moon- 
light?^^ 

Mrs. Burton and her host entered the 
front door of the house, crossed the large 
sitting room and came out upon one of the 
paths of the enclosed garden. 

Now the air was almost suffocatingly 
sweet with the night fragrances of the semi- 
tropical flowers. 

Under the deep magenta canopy of the 
bougainvillea vine the older woman dis- 
covered Gerry and her younger host. 

Felipe Morris was holding a guitar, but 
for the moment he and Gerry were quietly 
talking. Feeling too shaken and uncom- 
fortable to remain out of bed, and realizing 
by feminine intuition that FeUpe would 
prefer to be alone with Gerry, Sally Ashton 
had retired some time before. 

Now, although Mrs. Burton made no 
effort to interrupt Gerry’s whispered con- 
versation with Felipe Morris, she did wonder 
a little curiously what her influence upon 


88 


BEHIND THE LINES 


the young man would be, if by chance he 
had been attracted by her. 

There was no denying Gerry^s exquisite 
prettiness; tonight with her pale gold hair, 
her fairness and grace she seemed in tune 
with the beauty of this old-world garden. 
Yet Mrs. Burton believed that Gerry was 
shallow and vain and that her ideas of life 
included less of devotion to duty and 
self-sacrifice than Felipe^s. It was difficult 
to conceive of her acting as a motive force 
to high endeavor, Gerry, who dreamed only 
of money and pretty clothes and what she 
was pleased to consider “society.’^ 

Then Mrs. Burton sighed as she followed 
her host into the land which lay on the 
other side of the hedge. Had one the right 
to demand that Gerry and Felipe think of 
war tonight in a shrine, dedicated like this 
enclosed garden, to the service of youth and 
romance? 


CHAPTER VIII 


Felipe 

AS soon as Mrs. Burton and his father 
were out of sight Felipe began sing- 
^ ing: 

will make you brooches and toys for your delight 
Of bird-song at morning and star-shine at night. 

I will make a palace fit for you and me, 

Of green days in forests and blue days at sea. 

will make my kitchen and you shall keep your 
room 

Where white flows the river and bright blows the 
broom 

And you shall wash yom* linen and keep your body 
white 

In rainfall at morning and dewfall at night. 

'^And this shall be for music when no one else is 
near, 

The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear! 
That only I remember, that only you admire, 

On the broad road that stretches and the roadside 
fire.’^ 


( 89 ) 


90 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Then Felipe’s song ended, and yet it 
seemed to Gerry that she could still hear 
the inflections of his voice. 

''Thank you; that was lovely. I did not 
know I cared so much for music before,” 
the girl answered simply and without the 
least touch of coquetry which one might 
have expected of a girl like Gerry in such 
surroundings. "But what an exquisite 
voice you have and what a beautiful night 
it is ! I am sure I do not remember another 
half so lovely.” 

Then Gerry leaned forward a little so 
that she could see more clearly out into the 
garden. 

"I don’t wonder you feel that you cannot 
give aU this up,” she continued, with a 
graceful movement of her hand. "It 
seems to me wicked that you should be 
forced into the war, hating it as you do and 
perhaps spoiling your future as a singer. 
I agree with you, one ought to live his own 
life. All men are not equally fitted to be 
soldiers.” 

Gerry spoke with an unexpected vehe- 
mence which rather surprised her. For the 
past hour Felipe Morris had been pouring 


FELIPE 


91 


forth his side of the war problem to her, 
but as he was an entire stranger there was 
no especial reason why she should be so 
disturbed over the thought of his being 
forced to enter the army. 

suppose I understand why you so 
hate giving up your home and your life 
here on the ranch and your music and all the 
rest, because I have never had a home of 
my own, or any possessions of much value,’’ 
Gerry ended in a quieter voice and manner. 

^^You possess nothing of value!” Felipe 
Morris repeated, and although he said 
nothing more Gerry felt oddly flattered and 
happy. 

Then Felipe laughed unexpectedly. 

wonder if you realize. Miss Williams, 
that we have seen each other before tonight, 
probably about ten days or more ago? 
My friend Merton Anderson and I chanced 
to be spending the night at San Juan 
Capistrano when you and your friends rode 
into the old mission town. You don’t 
know how much curiosity your appearance 
excited. You gave the old town the 
greatest thrill it has had in a long time. 
You see the little town is more than half 


92 


BEHIND THE LINES 


foreign; there are Spaniards and Mexicans 
and half-breed Indians. You were dressed 
in a kind of compromise Indian costume, 
and down there we had never seen or heard 
of the Camp Fire. Merton and I hid our- 
selves on one of the verandas and sang a 
duet for your benefit. Then later, when it 
was too dark for us to see one another 
distinctly, we followed your party about 
the mission grounds.^’ 

Gerry frowned and then blushed a little 
from embarrassment. 

“Were you wearing Mexican costumes? 
I confess Sally and I did become interested 
in you, but we supposed of course that you 
were either Mexicans or Spaniards. Your 
song was in Spanish so that we could not 
understand it.” 

“Shall I sing to you in Spanish now?” 
Felipe returned. “I speak the language 
as readily as I do English. You see my 
mother was of Spanish origin and she and 
an old nurse who lives near here always 
spoke in Spanish to me when I was a kid. 
You were right about the Mexican costumes. 
Anderson and I had been over into Mexico 
for a few days and were on our way home. 


FELIPE 


93 


I like to escape over there now and then 
when life at the ranch becomes too slow. 
I can be mistaken for a Mexican when I 
wish and it is sometimes amusing.'^ 

Gerry nodded, preferring to have Felipe 
talk to her rather than to offer him con- 
fidences. Oddly she was wishing tonight 
that she had read as many books as the 
other Camp Fire girls and had enjoyed the 
same advantages. 

‘‘Then you saw all seven of us at Capis- 
trano?’’ she asked at length; adding, 
“There are five other girls in our Camp Fire 
group.” 

Felipe laughed. “Yes, I saw all of you, 
yet it was you alone I remembered,” he 
murmured with true Spanish gallantry. 

“Thank you for that compliment, al- 
though obviously I fished for it,” Gerry 
returned, smiling. “ But won’t you teU me, 
now that the draft has been ordered and 
your number called, how are you going to 
manage to escape? Of course I shall not 
speak to any one else of what you tell me.” 

“I am glad enough to teU you,” Felipe 
Morris continued boyishly. “You can’t 
imagine how hard it has been to have no 


94 BEHIND THE LINES 

one to sympathize with me. I have wished 
many times since war was declared that my 
mother was alive and I could have talked 
the situation over with her. My father, as 
I told you, is dead against me. He thinks 
I am a renegade and a disgrace to him and 
to his name, and a lot of stuff like that. 
It seems his brothers all fought in the Civil 
War and were officers and it has been the 
regret of his life he was too young. I wish 
he had the chance offered him now instead 
of me,^^ he concluded like a surly boy, with 
aU his gallantry departed. 

“But what are you going to do?^^ 
Gerry insisted, her interest in him remain- 
ing so far unaffected by his attitude. 

“Oh, I am too plagued healthy, so the 
doctor wonT help me out. I hoped to be 
released on the score of ill health at first. 
But later I sent in a claim saying I could 
not be released for war service because I 
was the sole support of my parent and had 
to be left here to look after the ranch. I 
don’t see why raising beans cannot be con- 
sidered war work? Father insists he can 
run the place himself and I am afraid he 
won’t stand by me when the exemption 


FELIPE 


95 


board asks him concerning the truth of my 
claim. Pretty tough when a fellow^s own 
father is anxious to get him off his hands to 
the extent of possibly being killed.’’ 

Felipe laid his guitar down on the piazza 
and in spite of the fact that he must have 
been at least twenty-two or twenty-three 
years old, Gerry found herself with a ridic- 
ulous desire to comfort him. 

^'It is just a difference of opinion,” she 
said softly. don’t believe if I were you 
I would blame my father, and he should 
have the same respect for you. I never 
thought of the question before, but I have 
decided tonight I do not believe in the 
draft. Isn’t there anything else you can do, 
if this one exemption claim fails?” 

Felipe Morris rose up, shrugging his 
shoulders impatiently. He was so foreign 
in his appearance that the movement 
seemed natural. 

^^Oh, yes, I can slip away into Mexico 
and remain until the war is over. I have 
been thinking of it as a possibility. . But of 
course if I am caught I shall be put into 
prison as a deserter.” 

Then he stood gazing down upon Gerry 
with a bewildered expression. 


96 


BEHIND THE LINES 


^^I wonder why I have entrusted my fate 
to you in this fashion? You understand 
that if you should ever tell what I have 
confided to you, things would be all over 
with me/’ 

Gerry also rose. Shall we walk about 
your garden for a little?” she said. ^'I am 
tired of sitting stiU so long. I expect Mrs. 
Burton will be here in a little time and think 
we should go to bed. But you need not 
worry with regard to my ever mentioning 
a word of what you have said to me — not 
under any possible circumstances.” 

Then as they wandered about the tiny 
garden Felipe gathered a bunch of the small 
white and yellow roses. 

''Keep these in your room tonight.” 

Afterwards discovering that Mrs. Burton 
and his father had returned to the garden 
and were coming toward them, he added 
hurriedly: 

" Tell me, please, when and where I can 
see you again, alone? It has meant so 
much to me to be able to talk to you so 
freely and I have an idea we are going to be 
friends.” 

"But you have agreed to come over to 


FELIPE 


97 


our camp/’ Gerry answered, feeling at the 
same time that she would like selfishly to 
preserve Felipe’s interest entirely for her- 
self. Of course when he was introduced to 
the other Camp Fire girls he would naturally 
take less pleasure in her society. 

‘‘Oh, yes, indeed, I am coming to your 
camp. Anderson and I would not miss the 
opportimity for a good deal. But I want 
to see you by yourself, not with a dozen 
other people chattering around. Surely you 
can manage to make an engagement to see 
me alone. You would if you hked me half 
as much as I do you.” 

Again Felipe spoke like a spoiled boy, 
but Gerry had no time to reply, for at this 
instant Mrs. Burton and Mr. Morris reached 
them. 

Truth to teU, she had a distinct sense of 
relief as, slipping her arm inside her Camp 
Fire guardian’s, together they said their 
formal good-nights. 

Already Felipe Morris was demanding 
more of Gerry than either of them realized. 


7 


CHAPTER IX 


The Cantonment 
FEW days after their visit at the 



ranch, arrangements were made for 


^ Mrs. Burton and members of her 
party to drive over to the new cantonment 
which was situated on a broad mesa not 
many miles away. 

Gerry Williams announced that because 
of the dust and discomfort she preferred 
being left behind. 

Sally Ashton also declined, stating that 
she was not weU enough to consider under- 
taking the long drive and then being forced 
to walk about over whatever portion of the 
camp they were permitted to inspect. 
After her mishap, which Sally considered no 
one had regarded with sufficient seriousness, 
she had acquired a prejudice against excur- 
sions of any character. 

Sally’s attitude the Camp Fire guardian 
understood, although she was somewhat 
puzzled by Gerry Williams, as always 


( 98 ) 


THE CANTONMENT 


99 


before Gerry had been enthusiastic over 
change and excitement. One would have 
supposed that among all the girls she 
would have been most interested in the new 
war camp and the possibility of seeing and 
meeting the young American soldiers. 

Mrs. Webster would not consider the 
trip, feeling that her heart would only be 
torn by the sight of so many war prep- 
arations, and more if she should chance 
to come in contact with an unusually home- 
sick boy. Her sister could bring back 
word of whatever she could actually do to 
be of service, since often enough she was 
the pioneer who went forth in search of 
new ideas which Mrs. Webster put into 
execution. 

Dan Webster was of course essential to 
the expedition, as he was chauffeur. Billy 
was not only invited, but Mrs. Burton 
insisted upon his accompanying them after 
he had very generously demurred, saying 
there was no reason why he should crowd 
the others when he really was not interested 
in war camps. She hoped, however, that 
the sight of the cantonment might exert 
either a mental or a spiritual influence 
upon him. 


100 


BEHIND THE LINES 


It was possible to manage eight in the car, 
although ordinarily it held but seven, yet 
one was willing to be a little inconvenienced 
under the circumstances, so the five girls, 
Vera Lagerloff, Bettina Graham, Alice Ash- 
ton, Marta Clark and Peggy Webster also 
accompanied Mrs. Burton. 

The first part of the drive followed the 
now familiar line of the shore. Yet the 
outlook was never the same! Now and 
then one would see a heron or sand crane 
standing upon one leg near the water, 
apparently lost in immortal thought; sea 
gulls were dipping in and out, or else riding 
serenely on the waves; occasionally a 
buzzard, grim as Odin, soared overhead. 

Once Marta Clark, who was on the front 
seat with Dan, gave a cry of surprise. She 
had discovered that what she supposed a 
great bird winging its fiight over their car, 
was in reality an aeroplane on a long 
practice fiight from North Island. 

Finally leaving the coast, the automobile 
began a long climb over an undulating line 
of hills. The hills were bare except for 
occasional bunches of cacti and bushes of 
bright yellow tar weed. There were acres 


THE CANTONMENT 


101 


and acres of sage brush, sometimes a field 
of wild buckwheat and once in a while a 
small grove of live oak shrubs or of red and 
blue gum trees. 

The mesa upon which the new canton- 
ment was springing up like a magic city was 
a great desert of sand and sage. For years 
the thousands of acres had been of no use 
because of the lack of water. Now great 
irrigating ditches had been laid and the 
camp was being plentifully supplied with 
water by the city of San Diego. 

The surroundings of the camp were 
cheerless enough, it is true, yet there was 
nothing cheerless in the atmosphere of the 
place itself. Even as the Camp Fire party 
approached they felt the imdercurrent of 
the fine new force, the splendid vitality 
which the war has awakened in the world. 

A sentry ordered Dan to stop his car 
within a few yards of the officers’ quarters 
and Mrs. Burton was told that she must 
receive an official permit for their inspection 
of certain features of the camp. 

From inside the little house, which looked 
like a miniature bungalow of unpainted 
pine, one heard the noise, not of the rattle 


102 


BEHIND THE LINES 


of musketry, but the endless tip, tap, tap 
of many typewriters. 

Captain Mason, who had been told of 
Mrs. Burton^s intended visit, came out to 
greet her and her party. 

He explained that just at present there 
were only a few hundred soldiers within the 
cantonment, although they were expecting 
many thousands within the next few weeks. 

An army of workmen were at present 
engaged in preparing the way for the com- 
ing of the soldiers and the big artillery. 

Strolling apart from the other laborers 
and stiU carrying a large hammer, Mr. 
Jefferson Simpson, the late Camp Fire 
guide, philospher and friend, walked over 
to speak to Mrs. Burton and her com- 
panions. He offered no explanation for 
his presence at the camp, but it was obvious 
he had concluded that his efforts here were 
of more importance than his previous occu- 
pation. The Sunrise Camp Fire had always 
considered his remaining with them for so 
long a time an obvious absurdity and 
presumed that it was because of Mr. 
Simpson’s continuing interest in Marie, 
although he had paid no attention to her 
since the breaking of their engagement. 


THE CANTONMENT 


103 


\l But apparently his leading motive in life 
^was to discover the number and variety of 
It vocations in which he could engage. 

I After receiving a written order from the 
commanding officer for the day, Captain 
Mason led the way with Mrs. Burton walk- 
ing beside him. 

They were to be allowed to see only 
places of minor importance, the temporary 
tents and mess room, the Y. M. C. A. 
quarters. Mrs. Burton had explained that 
one of the chief reasons for their visit was a 
desire to find out how they might be of 
service in even the smallest possible way. 

'^You see. Captain Mason,’’ she sug- 
gested, '^we are living for the present not 
far behind the lines of this American war 
camp. In a different sense every woman 
and girl in our country should be a reserve 
soldier behind the lines until the war is 
over. One need not wear a uniform, or 
carry a gun to serve! Our American Camp 
Fire girls feel that they ought to be able 
to give as valuable service to the country as 
the Boy Scouts. I confess we have not 
yet altogether found our way.” 

By this time Mrs. Burton and Captain 


104 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Mason had reached the Red Cross tent and 
now had paused for a moment outside to 
wait for the five girls and Dan and Billy 
Webster to join them. 

Captain Mason nodded, waving his hand 
toward the open flap of the tent. 

You can help us keep our boys amused. 
I tell you that is the greatest problem we 
older oflScers have to meet with young, 
untrained soldiers. Discipline is compara- 
tively easy, for few of the boys resent it; 
but look in there 

Mrs. Burton did look, while Bettina and 
Marta and Peggy, who were nearest, also 
gazed in over her shoulders. 

Several soldiers were sitting by a long 
board table looking at a pile of magazines, 
not because they were interested, but 
plainly because they had nothing else on 
earth they could think of to do. 

On a raised platform a phonograph was 
playing an Italian love song. Some one 
must have started it, although at present 
no one apparently was listening to the 
music. 

Several of the soldiers were writing 
letters, others were yawning and half lying 


THE CANTONMENT 


105 


down on the hard wooden benches, bored 
and listless and homesick. 

Hearing voices outside the Y. M. C. A. 
tent, one young officer, who also had been 
writing, lifted his eyes. 

The same instant Bettina Graham walked 
quickly inside the tent, holding out her 
hand. 

'^Why, here is my lieutenant she 
exclaimed. May I call you my lieutenant, 
although Marta Clark will dispute the 
title? For I did reach you first after your 
accident and it is my first-aid treatment you 
seem to have survived. I did not know you 
had arrived at this cantonment. Lieutenant 
Carson. I do hope you have entirely 
recovered.^^ 


CHAPTER X 


Plans 

O NE afternoon, after resting for an 
hour or more, Mrs. Burton appeared 
at her little front door, wondering 
why she was encompassed by so unusual a 
silence. 

The fact that at present the Sunrise 
camp was situated several miles from any 
other human habitation, with the sea 
stretching before it and a great ranch as 
its background, did not ordinarily insure it 
an essential silence. As a matter of fact, 
there were generally nine youthful persons, 
engaged in strenuous occupations of one 
kind or another, in its immediate vicinity. 

This afternoon Mrs. Burton discovered 
that they had withdrawn to some distance 
from the camping grounds. 

A camp fire was burning and the girls 
were seated about it in ceremonial fashion, 
with Mrs. Webster also forming one of the 
group. A little further off her two sons 
( 106 ) 


PLANS 


107 


were characteristically engaged, Dan in 
bringing small pieces of driftwood up from 
the shore and Billy in lying upon his back, 
gazing toward the sky. 

In truth only their Camp Fire guardian 
appeared deliberately to have been left out 
of the gathering. 

Mrs. Burton suffered a distinct sensation 
of aggrievement. 

Evidently the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire 
girls were deep in a consultation of some im- 
portant character, so that it seemed scarcely 
fair that they should have ignored her 
completely. 

Not wishing to go back into her room, 
which had grown a little close, and yet not 
desiring to interrupt the proceedings, from 
which her presence had been so carefuUy 
excluded, Mrs. Burton hesitated a moment 
just outside her house. If she were seen 
wandering about nearby, as a matter of good 
manners she would have to be invited to 
the camp fire. With Mrs. Webster already 
there, she had not the excuse that her 
presence might be necessary. Often the 
girls seemed to prefer giving her sister 
their confidence. 


108 


BEHIND THE LINES 


At this instant one of the Camp Fire 
group observed her and gave the informa- 
tion to the others. Peggy began beckoning 
violently^ while Bettina Graham and Marta 
Clark both jumped up and were coming 
toward her. 

You are lazy, Tante, we have been wait- 
ing for you to wake up for ages!’^ Bettina 
remarked, slipping her arm through the 
older woman^s. She was several inches 
taller than her Camp Fire guardian, and 
oftentimes at a distance Mrs. Burton was 
mistaken for another girl, she was so slender 
and so youthfully and ardently alive both 
in body and spirit. 

^'Yes, you seem to have been tremen- 
dously anxious for my society,’^ she returned 
in the voice and manner both Bettina and 
Peggy understood. If the other Camp Fire 
girls were at times a little in awe of their 
famous guardian, Peggy and Bettina appre- 
ciated that she was much like other persons 
and now and then behaved like a somewhat 
spoiled young girl. Certainly she never 
regarded her own achievements as placing 
her upon a pedestal. 

From her present speech and manner 


PLANS 


109 


Bettina realized that she was both jealous 
and hurt over their apparent disregard of 
her, for she had an ahnost ridiculous crav- 
ing for affection as an ordinary human 
being, caring but little for the admiration 
which was a tribute to her as an artist 
rather than a woman. 

Nevertheless Bettina laughed in an en- 
tirely unsympathetic fashion. 

^^Well, we did wish to discuss something 
before you put in an appearance, but now 
the discussion has been over for some time, 
we very much desire your society. Yet 
only if you are amiable, because just at 
this time it is enormously important that 
you should be.’^ 

Mrs. Burton frowned and then laughed, a 
little teased by Bettina^s too evident under- 
standing of her state of mind. 

Marta Clark said nothing. She had not 
yet acquired the habit of regarding her 
Camp Fire guardian in any spirit save one 
of devoted admiration. But Marta was the 
latest of the group of Sunrise Camp Fire 
girls and of necessity knew her less weU 
than the others. Moreover, Marta also 
dreamed of a future dramatic career and it 


no 


BEHIND THE LINES 


was not so easy to take simply the one 
woman who personified her own ideals. 

In the circle on the ground Peggy 
Webster had arranged a leather cushion 
ornamented with Camp Fire designs as a 
seat of honor for their guardian when she 
finally arrived. 

Sitting down, Mrs. Burton clasped her 
hands over her knees, gazing curiously 
around. 

^Hs this a conspiracy or rebellion, or a 
plot?” she demanded. ^Ht seems to me, 
Mollie Webster, not only because you are 
my sister, but because we alone belong to 
the same generation, that you at least 
should not have been one of the conspira- 
tors.” 

Like the proverbial Charlotte in '^Wil- 
helm Meister,” who went on cutting bread 
and butter, Mrs. Webster, without replying, 
continued knitting. 

^^Oh, our plot is not dangerous, or 
at least we do not think it is, although 
you may feel differently,” Peggy Webster 
announced, to whom the task of impart- 
ing the information evidently had been 
awarded. ^^We have merely been dis- 


PLANS 


111 


cussing the idea of forming a Camp Fire 
branch to the War Camp Recreation 
League. You remember this League is to 
do whatever is possible for the entertain- 
ment of the soldiers and we talked of our 
share in it after our visit to the war camp 
the other day.’’ 

Mrs. Burton appeared slightly suspicious, 
also remember, Peggy, that it was 
agreed I was to be allowed to choose what 
form our activities should take. Moreover, 
whatever plan presented itself to us was 
first to be submitted to an officer at camp 
to find out if the plan met with military 
approval. Camp Fire girls, however clever, 
are scarcely the proper persons to decide 
upon the ways and means for providing 
entertainment for our American soldiers, 
valuable as their aid may be in the enter- 
tainment itself. But there, forgive me, I 
do not intend being disagreeable, and I 
have no doubt you have thought up some 
thrilling scheme! Only why not wait 
until our little dinner party and dance for 
the soldiers tomorrow evening is over before 
we precipitate ourselves into a fresh under- 
taking?” 


112 


BEHIND THE LINES 


^'Oh, our party is just a small matter 
compared to the plan we have been wort 
ing out this afternoon/’ Peggy continued, 
refusing to be snubbed or argued into 
silence. ^‘Our idea is that if we are to 
become a branch of the War Recreation 
Fund Committee we must raise money for 
the organization. We wish to give a play 
and present to the fund whatever money 
we make.” 

Mrs. Burton shook her head. ^^Give a 
play out here in this semi-wildemess? 
Well, the idea is agreeable enough if you 
wish to amuse yourselves, but how you 
expect to make money or secure an audi- 
ence is beyond my imagination! How- 
ever, if you have set your hearts upon the 
scheme and think it would amuse you, do 
as you like. I only ask to be left out 
altogether. Remember, I am resting from 
a histrionic career.” 

Mrs. Burton made a movement as if she 
contemplated leaving, but Peggy resolutely 
held her in her place. 

^^We do expect you to help; more, we 
expect you to be almost the entire thing!” 
Bettina interrupted with more vigor than 


PLANS 


113 


clearness. '^We are not contemplating a 
silly little amateur performance here at 
camp; we have more important things to 
interest us. We wish to give a real play 
at that exquisite open-air theater near the 
seaside resort that we saw the other day 
on our drive. Ever since then Marta and 
Peggy and I have been dreaming of little 
else and talking of little else to the other 
girls until now they are as enthusiastic as we 
are. It was Marta Clark who actually put 
our present scheme into our minds, and she 
merely spoke of how much she would enjoy 
seeng you act outdoors in so lovely a place/’ 
am sure Marta is very kind,” Mrs. 
Burton answered, but without revealing a 
profound appreciation of the compliment. 
^'But don’t be foolish, please. You know 
I try to do whatever is possible toward 
making our summers together happy and 
satisfying. Yet one of my chief reasons 
for living outdoors is to have a complete 
rest from my work and to get away from the 
whole thought of it as much as possible. 
I have given all the money to war causes 
I can afford at present. Later I shall do 
more, of course ” 


114 


BEHIND THE LINES 


''That is just the point/’ Peggy inter- 
rupted. "If people out here in California 
leam you are to appear in an outdoor 
performance, they wiU positively flock to 
see you. You know you could earn a lot 
of money for the Recreation Fund, besides 
we all think it would be great fun to act 
with you and have already selected the 
play that would be the most interesting to 
produce.” 

"Really, Peggy, I think you have gone 
somewhat too far,” Mrs. Burton answered, 
although with a slightly dazed expression. 
"I don’t believe I have ever had a theatrical 
manager who made every arrangement, 
even to selecting the play in which I was to 
appear, without consulting me. The whole 
thing is preposterous. MoUie, I reaUy 
cannot understand your allowing the girls 
to become so absorbed in such a nonsensical 
project! I think you might have spared 
me the diflBculty of refusing.” 

"But you don’t appear to be having any 
difficulty in refusing, Polly,” Mrs. Webster 
answered with her usual placidity. Never- 
theless, she realized how greatly this same 
placidity annoyed her beloved twin sister 


PLANS 


115 


in moments of agitation. Yet I am sorry 
that I agreed to permit the girls to broach 
the subject to you, since the idea seems to 
trouble you so much. Personally I am 
afraid I also found the idea charming. 
You have not acted for a long time and 
many of your friends are giving theatrical 
benefits for the Red Cross or some war need. 
The girls thought they would like to present 
^As You Like It,^ with you as Rosalind; 
you know you have played Rosalind dozens 
of times before. The open-air theater would 
make an exquisite Forest of Arden. Be- 
sides, I am sure our present group of 
Camp Fire girls could not act, so poorly as 
you used to, now and then, in private 
theatricals in the old days. You know, my 
dear, none of us imagined then that you 
were to turn out a genius.’’ 

Mrs. Burton flushed. “No one imagines 
it now, MoUie.” She answered with obvious 
irritability. Then her manner became 
more apologetic: 

“You girls are not angry with me for 
refusing? ” 

Wisely Peggy shook her head, “No, we 
are only disappointed.” 


116 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Then everybody in the little company 
remained silent for several moments, which 
was a most unusual state of affairs among 
the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls. 

Plainly Mrs. Burton suffered from the 
depressing influence, for suddenly she got 
up. 

^'Please leave me alone for a little while. 
I must think the question over?^^ she 
announced, as if she had not already issued 
her ultimatum. The next moment she 
turned away and walked down toward the 
beach 

^^What do you think Tante will decide. 
Mother?’^ Peggy anxiously inquired. 

Mrs. Webster shook her head. ^‘My 
dear, Polly and I are twins, and I have 
known her ever since I have known any- 
thing. But to tell beforehand how she will 
make up her mind upon any subject is 
beyond me. I am a httle sorry we have 
made this request of her. She takes her 
work so seriously, and after all she is 
doing so much for us without the addition 
of this.’’ 

At this instant a cool voice was heard 
speaking in the background. 


PLANS 


117 


The voice was Billy Webster’s. 

believe Tante will have the time of 
her life acting with you girls, of course she 
will consent, although probably no one else 
on earth with her reputation would take 
such a risk.” 


CHAPTER XI 


The Dance 

HE next day Mrs. Burton announced 



that having written her husband 


she would await his reply before 
reaching an absolutely definite decision in 
regard to their presentation of “As You 
Like It.’’ In the meantime she insisted 
that the whole question of the performance 
be neither thought of nor discussed. 

Appreciating that he had grown too old 
to make a valuable soldier and yet unwilling 
to be left out of war service, Mrs. Burton’s 
husband, Richard Burton, had taken the 
necessary examinations and had received a 
commission in the Ordnance Department. 
He was now stationed at a southern camp. 

Despite the Camp Fire guardian’s request, 
there was a good deal of speculation among 
the girls concerning the possible outcome 
of their hopes. During the following day 
they were too much absorbed by the 
prospect immediately before them to give 


( 118 ) 


THE DANCE 


119 


much time to the consideration of the 
future. 

Having arranged a small dance and 
invited a number of soldiers from the 
nearby camp to be their guests, the girls 
had promised to do whatever work was 
necessary for their entertainment. This 
included the cooking of the party food as 
well as the other arrangements. But by 
this time, after several summers of camping 
life, each girl considered that she had 
become an artist in the preparation of 
one or more superior dishes. 

Ordinarily the most indolent of the girls, 
on occasions of especial festivity Sally 
Ashton always assumed supreme command 
of the cooking. It was Sally who, with 
Gerry and Vera as her assistants, made 
both the bread and cake, articles of food of 
particular importance. 

In the present m4nu she was especially 
interested, as recently she had been experi- 
menting with a number of new war recipes, 
finding them extremely successful. Now 
SaUy wished to repeat the recipes for a 
larger company than their Camp Fire group. 

Having by this time recovered from her 


120 


BEHIND THE LINES 


accident, secretly Sally Ashton felt that she 
was being repaid for what she had suffered. 
She had secured a very agreeable new 
acquaintance, who showed the symptoms 
Sally so well understood of becoming one 
of her many admirers. The young man 
was Merton Anderson, who had been a 
guest at the Morris ranch and had ridden 
over to camp with the news of the accident. 

Since then, with Mr. Morris and Felipe 
Morris, he had made several calls upon Mrs. 
Burton and ostensibly upon her group of 
Camp Fire girls. However, after Merton 
Anderson’s first visit, Sally appreciated that 
the rest of his calls were due to her presence. 
No one could have explained how she man- 
aged, not even Sally herself, yet she had a 
fashion of seeing and conquering almost 
immediately both young men and old. 
No one ever observed her making an effort 
to attract attention. She was even unusu- 
ally demure; nevertheless the attraction 
was going on in a subtle and scientific 
fashion. 

Of Felipe Morris’ attitude toward her, 
Gerry Williams was by no means so assured. 
Not since their original meeting at his home 


THE DANCE 


121 


had she an opportunity of speaking to him 
alone, nor had she made the effort to secure 
such an opportunity. For some reason 
Gerry felt a certain shyness toward her 
new acquaintance, almost as if she were 
afraid of the influence he might be able to 
exert upon her. 

Certainly she had no idea of making an 
appointment to meet him anywhere alone. 
Apart from the fact that Mrs. Burton would 
not approve, Gerry had been trained in a 
sufficiently hard school of experience to 
recognize the lack of wisdom in such a 
proceeding. If she wished Felipe to like 
her especially, and she was by no means 
sure at this time that she did wish it, then 
she must not allow herself to become 
cheapened in his eyes. Social conventions 
Gerry understood were of value and more 
especially to a girl in her position. How- 
ever, Felipe had appeared to be courteous, 
although extraordinarily determined upon 
securing his own way. 

In return for their kindness and also 
because she liked both young men, Mrs. 
Burton had invited Felipe Morris and 
Merton' Anderson to their Camp Fire 


122 


BEHIND THE LINES 


entertamment. The entertainment was 
to be more than an ordinary dance, since 
the guests had been invited to a swimming 
party in the afternoon, then dinner and 
the dance later. 

Since the girls were to spend a portion of 
the afternoon in swimming, most of the 
preparations for their party necessarily had 
to be made beforehand. Mrs. Webster 
had promised to look after final details, 
and also there was Marie, who was temper- 
amental, but who could be relied upon to 
accomphsh marvels when she was in the 
proper mood. Since the entry of the 
United States into the war, Marie, who was 
an ardent French woman, had adopted 
the American soldier as her especial prot4g4. 

Moreover, on the morning before their 
dance Alice Ashton and Peggy Webster had 
motored into town, purchasing the pro- 
visions they considered too troublesome to 
prepare. They bought two roast hams and 
a roast of beef and half a dozen varieties of 
fruit. Their m4nu was to consist of cold 
meats, baked beans, which were a Camp 
Fire speciality, roast potatoes and corn, 
which could be cooked over the outdoor fire, 
cornbread, fruit salad, coffee and cake. 


THE DANCE 


123 


In the afternoon the girls were to wear 
their Camp Fire bathing suits, but at night 
they had concluded to appear in white 
dresses, with their honor beads, almost as 
beautiful and as effective as jewels. 

The ceremonial Camp Fire costumes 
were somewhat too heavy and too warm 
for dancing on a midsummer night in a 
semi-tropical land. 

The girls were naturally a trifle shy over 
the prospect of guests, nearly all of whom 
were complete strangers. Among them 
were only two with whom they had any 
previous acquaintance. They were Lieu- 
tenant Geoffrey Carson and Private George 
Ferguson, the soldiers who were aided after 
an accident in their motor car, by the Camp 
Fire girls during their riding trip down the 
coast. 

Two of the soldiers were members of one 
of the regimental bands and had promised 
to play for the dancers, since the girls 
possessed only a much-used victrola and 
were too far off in the country to be able 
to engage the services of professional 
musicians. 

No dance could have been less conven- 



On One Occasion Gerry and Felipe Discovered that 
( 124 ) They were Actually Dancing Alone 



THE DANCE 


125 


tional, when for one thing the white, smooth 
sands of the beach below the camp were to 
serve as the ballroom floor. 

Truly here indeed were the colors of 
romance, the moon and the sea, youth and 
a wind-swept shore ! 

That night, dancing with Felipe Morris, 
Gerry believed that she had never been so 
happy. 

With his Southern ancestry and musical 
gifts, naturally Felipe was a wonderful 
dancer, possessing an almost perfect sense 
of rhythm and time. 

On one occasion Gerry and Felipe dis- 
covered that they were actually dancing 
alone, their companions having stopped for 
a moment to watch them. Then they were 
only brought to a realization of what had 
taken place by hearing Mrs. Burton cry: 

Bravo and afterwards the applause of 
a dozen pairs of hands. 

A little while before Felipe had lifted their 
right arms and he and Gerry had danced in 
and out in semi-circles until they formed 
the petals of a flower; reaching the center 
they revolved slowly in a circle, until almost 
ceasing to move. 


126 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Mrs. Burton decided that seldom had she 
seen a more enchanting picture — Gerry 
with her delicate blonde prettiness, Felipe 
Morris so complete a contrast. But then 
a great deal may have been due to the 
effect of the outdoor scene and the moon- 
light! 

Before midnight, after dancing for sev- 
eral hours and after their long afternoon 
swim, the dancers must have grown weary, 
for they wandered off and sat down in 
little groups on the sand. 

This was Gerry^s and Felipe^s oppor- 
tunity, for at once Felipe led her to a place 
where they were in sight of the others and 
yet where they could not be overheard. 

The rock Felipe had chosen rose above 
an amethyst carpet of sea verbena where 
Gerry sat enthroned while he lay down on 
the floral carpet. 

Felipe could adopt an attitude of careless 
grace with more assurance than the usual 
American youth. Indeed, he looked utterly 
unlike any of the other young men who were 
the guests of the Camp Fire girls this night. 

They wore their uniforms and were 
bronzed and fit. 


THE DANCE 


127 


At this time the soldiers of the National 
Guard were beginning slowly to fill their 
new military camps, as they were to be the 
first regiments ordered to France after the 
regular army had crossed. The drafted 
men were not yet ready for service. During 
this memorable first summer, after the 
entry of the United States into the war, the 
lists of the drafted men were being prepared 
with great difficulty. 

Therefore no one of the soldier guests 
questioned Felipe Morris' position. It 
was presumed that he and Merton Anderson 
were in the attitude of waiting for their 
call to the colors. 

Among the small company only Gerry 
and Mrs. Burton and Merton Anderson 
were aware of Felipe's attempt to claim 
exemption. Naturally the matter was not 
one that he cared to discuss with strangers, 
and more especially not with young men 
near his own age, who had volunteered 
rather than wait for the drafting. 

However, Felipe was at present pleasantly 
sure of Gerry's sympathy. 

^^Fine looking soldiers, our American 
warriors ! " he began in a lazy, good-humored 


128 


BEHIND THE LINES 


tone, which nevertheless held a slight sug- 
gestion of disparagement. ^^I suppose one 
ought to rejoice that there are some men 
among us who have the masculine passion 
for fighting so long as the Kaiser^s Huns are 
still abroad in the world. But personally 
I don^t feel I should make a success as a 
soldier.’’ 

Such a conversation would not have 
made the slightest impression upon any 
one of the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls 
except Gerry. 

It was obvious that Felipe preferred 
some one else to shoulder his responsibihty 
and do his duty. Selfishness is neither 
original nor unique! 

But Gerry was not given to deep reflec- 
tion and was already more under her com- 
panion’s influence than she realized. 

'^When are we going to have a meeting 
together somewhere off to ourselves?” 
Felipe asked. There are so many things 
I want to talk to you about; it is tantalizing 
to see you for only a few moments at a 
time now and then. Why can’t you come 
over and stay again at the ranch? My 
father does nothing but read war news all 


THE DANCE 


129 


day and either Shakespeare or Cervantes 
in the evening, so we would be virtually 
alone/’ 

The prospect sounded alluring to Gerry, 
nevertheless she slowly shook her head. 

should like it, of course,” she 
answered, smiling and showing her small 
but very regular white teeth, ^'only, like a 
good many other pleasant things in this 
world, it is out of the question for me. 
I cannot stay at your home alone with just 
your father and yourseK. Besides, your 
father would never think of inviting me, 
and although I should enjoy seeing you 
alone at some other time, I am afraid even 
that is impossible. Mrs. Burton would 
not ” 

Here Felipe laughed in a teasing fashion. 

“Is this the vaunted freedom of the 
American girl? I thought only the other 
evening you confided to me that you had 
always been forced to depend upon your- 
self ever since you were a little girl and that 
there had been no one in your life who had 
ever influenced your decisions! Now you 
speak of Mrs. Burton as if you were a tiny 
school girl. Let me assure you — if assur- 

9 


130 


BEHIND THE LINES 


ance be necessary — ^that I intended nothing 
wicked or even unconventionaL I only 
wished you to take a walk with me some 
afternoon, or a sail. I have a motor boat, 
and there are hours when the sea is not 
rough. As a matter of fact, I meant to ask 
Mrs. Burton’s permission, in case I had your 
consent first. Mrs. Burton strikes me 
as a charming person and not one who 
would be too strict a chaperon. Naturally, 
as I have spent aU my hfe in this neighbor- 
hood, I know the attractive parts of the 
country.” 

Felipe’s tone was not so much annoyed 
as it was patronizing, and Gerry accepted 
it in this spirit. 

She disliked making social mistakes, and 
she had had so little social training and 
experience that she was apt to regard her 
mistakes as of more importance than they 
actually were. 

Now she supposed that she had mis- 
understood Felipe from the beginning and 
that her own stupidity had been at fault. 
So she replied somewhat humbly: 

^'I am sorry. If Mrs. Burton is willing, 
of course I shall enjoy walking or sailing 


THE DANCE 


131 


with yon. But don’t let me keep you 
away from the other girls too long tonight. 
Suppose we walk over and join Mrs. 
Burton.’^ 

As if she intended rising, Gerry made a 
slight movement. Her companion did not 
stir. 

^'Sit down, please, I am afraid you are 
^gry,” he returned. 'T do wish I had my 
guitar with me; I should hke to sing to 
you. Mrs. Burton asked me to bring it 
over tonight, but I had rather not sing 
before the others.” 

So Gerry stayed on and allowed Felipe 
to talk, while she said httle in reply, only 
glancing now and then from the figure at 
her feet to the beauty of the moonlit ocean. 
Vaguely she wondered why she had always 
been convinced she did not care for the 
outdoor world. It was stupid never to 
have realized its loveliness until tonight! 

But, while Gerry and Fehpe were having 
their talk together, only a short distance 
away Lieutenant Geoffrey Carson and 
Bettina Graham were engaged in a very 
different character of conversation. 

It chanced that Lieutenant Carson, who 


132 


BEHIND THE LINES 


was a Virginian, had an uncle who had been 
a representative in Congress for a number of 
years. Having visited his uncle, Lieutenant 
Carson had not only heard of Bettina^s 
distinguished father, but had met him and 
knew of his effort to persuade his country 
to take her high place among the nations 
in the fight for a world-wide democracy. 

So, since Bettina Graham’s father was 
her idol, she experienced none of her cus- 
tomary shyness in talking to the young 
National Guard officer. She had liked him 
in their former meetings, not resenting his 
quiet sense of humor, a contrast to her own 
seriousness. 

^^Then you are in absolute sympathy 
with our having entered the war. Lieu- 
tenant Carson?” Bettina inquired, adding: 

think I always have been — and yet now 
and then one cannot help feeling that all 
war must be wrong.” 

Before the young officer could reply, they 
heard some one approaching and glancing 
up Bettina discovered Billy Webster. 

The next moment, without awaiting 
their invitation, Billy took a seat on the 
sands beside them. 


THE DANCE 


133 


Bettina was not surprised, for few persons 
who knew Billy intimately continued to 
be surprised by his unexpected actions. 
Indeed, they would have been surprised 
had he behaved otherwise. Now, although 
Bettina was a little annoyed at having her 
conversation interrupted, she made no 
effort to interfere with his intention. 

The turning of BiUy Webster from the 
accomplishment of his desire required a 
tremendous amount of energy which the 
result scarcely ever justified. 

So far as Lieutenant Carson was con- 
cerned, because Billy looked so much 
younger than he actually was, he regarded 
him merely as a presuming small boy. 

Moreover, at the beginning of their talk, 
certainly Billy behaved like one. First he 
stared at Lieutenant Carson^s dress uni- 
form, with the single bar on his collar and 
sleeve and then up into the officer’s firm, 
smooth-shaven face. Finally, leaning over 
close to his companion, he fastened his 
large visionary blue eyes upon the officer’s 
steadfast brown ones. 

^^Why did you do it?” Billy inquired. 
Then, because he was accustomed to being 


134 


BEHIND THE LINES 


compelled to explain himself, he continued: 
^^I mean why did you volunteer, why go 
through all the hard work and rigmarole 
to be appointed an oflScer in the army? 
You look as if you had an unusual lot of 
sense, so I cannot imagine that you do not 
understand there are finer things to do 
with one^s hfe than killing people. I should 
think you could see how much more men 
are called upon to conquer poverty and 
injustice and the crime that comes of it, 
than they are called upon to conquer one 
another. Of course if you had been drafted 
that would have been a different matter. 
Most people do what other people tell them 
to do. That is why I believe if aU the 
leaders of the world would preach peace, 
all war would end.^^ 

Instead of appearing to take the youthful 
pacifist seriously, Lieutenant Carson smiled. 
BiUy was a httle offensive and misguided, 
nevertheless there was something inter- 
esting about the boy; he had such an 
intense manner, such an appearance of 
being convinced of his own point of view. 
And Billyhs personahty suggested the 
thinker, not the man of action. 


THE DANCE 


135 


'‘Then you are under the impression we 
are over there in our encampment for the 
fim of it and in order to kill time which we 
might be spending in better ways?^^ he 
inquired, thinking that perhaps he might 
answer Bettina’s anxious questionings and 
Billy’s impertinence at the same time. 
"Well, as a matter of fact, our encamp- 
ment is not a very attractive place up to 
the present. Did you think so when you 
made us the visit? One job we have been 
tackling recently is to clear away the under- 
brush from a good many thousands of 
acres of desert which have remained undis- 
turbed from the year one until now. We 
killed ninety rattlesnakes as a part of the 
first day’s work. Later on we are going to 
drive artillery across those wastes of sand. 
Does not sound like play, does it? ” 

"No,” BiUy returned patiently, wonder- 
ing why people would not sometimes answer 
his questions directly, without first preach- 
ing long sermons which seemed to have but 
little bearing upon them. 

"It is because I think a soldier’s life is 
so hard and must be so distasteful to a lot 
of men that I wonder why you would rather 


136 


BEHIND THE LINES 


give your energy to fighting than to trying 
to make the world happier and wiser in 
other ways.’^ 

Lieutenant Carson frowned. He knew 
the things Billy was saying were being said 
by a good many people the world over, 
who were older and wiser, or who should 
have been wiser, than Billy. But he also 
realized that these same sentiments were 
not easy to answer, because they had in 
them so much of the germ of truth, which 
was to blossom and fiower at some future 
day. 

Moreover, unexpectedly he experienced 
an impulse to help the boy to see the 
present world struggle in a clearer light. 

Billy, he added, “you wiU agree with 
me, wonT you, that pretty nearly every- 
body is saying the same thing these days? 
We all claim that we wish the world to 
•enjoy universal peace, that we long for 
greater justice and happiness and a deeper 
sense of brotherhood. There is only one 
point that divides you and me just at 
present. We all want peace, but some of 
us want it so much that we are willing to 
pay for it by the final last sacrifice of our 


THE DANCE 


137 


youth and our blood. There are others 
who think it may be obtained, and appar- 
ently you are one of them, simply by sitting 
still and talking the whole subject over. 
This is pretty difficult as things are at 
present. So long as the devil is such a 
scrapper, those of us who believe in the 
triumph of right have got to learn to fight 
back harder and even more successfully 
than he can fight.’’ 

Billy was silent for a moment, then with 
an egotism which was eminently character- 
istic, he remarked: '^Well, perhaps that 
is the way some people must see the thing. 
Do you know I have always believed 
that some day I am going to have a tre- 
mendous infiuence upon people just 
through talking to them.” 

Then, by the time Lieutenant Carson 
had recovered from his surprise at Billy’s 
audacity, he had made up his mind that the 
hour had arrived for their return to camp. 


CHAPTER XII 


You Like It^^ 

HE more Mrs. Burton dwelt upon 



the idea of giving a play for the 


recreation fund of the soldiers, the 
more the idea pleased her. Upon going 
more deeply into the subject she discovered 
that an effort was being made to secure 
funds for the building of a theater in each 
war camp in the United States. 

To initiate the movement and to be the 
first contributor to the fund here in their 
immediate neighborhood, Mrs. Burton 
realized would give her great pleasure. If 
her fellow players were offering to act at 
these theaters, traveling from one to the 
other in a regular circuit during the coming 
winter, then surely the theaters should be 
provided! 

Moreover, after having first suffered a 
natural objection to acting with novices, 
Mrs. Burton changed her point of view to 
the extent of considering that it might be 


( 138 ) 


YOU LIKE 


139 


rather charming to play with her own Camp 
Fire girls in a comedy fresh and sparkling 
as Shakespeare’s ‘^As You Like It.” The 
play itself was in the spirit of a summer 
vacation, fuU of the outdoors and delicious 
improbabilities. Besides the effort would 
be a valuable experience for her Camp Fire 
girls. 

Captain Burton had written, expressing 
not only his approval of the suggestion, 
but a real enthusiasm, provided Mrs. 
Burton felt well enough to undertake it. 
Also he suggested that Mrs. Burton find 
some professional actor in California who 
would play Orlando to her Rosalind, Then 
the contrast between her acting and that of 
her amateur company need not be so con- 
spicuous. He also proposed that she secure 
the assistance of a professional stage man- 
ager to assist in the training of her players. 

In the beginning of their discussion con- 
cerning the production of ^^As You Like 
It, ” Mrs. Burton had announced as insur- 
mountable the obstacle that the cast 
required a greater number of men than of 
women characters. It appeared that the 
girls already had considered this fact and 
were prepared with a proposal. 


140 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Peggy and Bettina had talked the matter 
over quietly with Lieutenant Carson on the 
night of their dance, begging him not to 
speak of it if nothing came of their idea. 
But they were thus able to report that 
Lieutenant Carson believed his commanding 
officer would permit a few of the soldiers 
to act with them in ^'As You Like It,’^ 
provided the rehearsals did not interfere 
with their army work. 

Later, when the performance became an 
actual possibility. Lieutenant Carson 
inquired among his soldier companions 
until he discovered the men who had some 
past dramatic experience and would also 
be acceptable in a social way. 

Besides the soldiers Mrs. Burton later on 
invited Felipe Morris and Merton Anderson 
to become members of her cast. 

Merton Anderson declined. No one 
knew the reason for his refusal except Sally 
Ashton, who, as a matter of fact, had begged 
him not to take part. Personally she did 
not approve of the outdoor play and had 
no idea of making the effort necessary to 
portray the least important character. 
Therefore Sally did not wish her latest 


AS YOU LIKE IT” 


141 


admirer to become involved in an interest 
which would separate him from her society. 

Felipe Morris appeared delighted to take 
part, and it was his aid which Mrs. Burton 
desired. She was confident that he would 
be able to act with unusual grace and self- 
assurance for a novice, and at least he 
possessed good looks and a naturally artistic 
temperament. 

Moreover, Mrs. Burton and Felipe^s 
father had become good friends, so that 
she believed that Mr. Morris would be 
pleased to have Felipe drawn into an inti- 
mate association with certain of the 
soldiers of the National Guard, trusting 
that they might influence him. Personally 
Mrs. Burton thought the one thing neces- 
sary was to entice Felipe away from his 
music and his indolent dreaming into the 
world of real men where he would awaken 
to his duty. 

She knew of his friendship with Gerry 
and of the somewhat marked interest they 
apparently felt in each other, but she did not 
take the fact seriously. Already he had 
asked several times that he and Gerry be 
allowed to spend an afternoon together and 


142 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Mrs. Burton had promptly consented. No 
longer did she cherish the illusion that she 
could hide away her Camp Fire girls in 
even the remotest comers of the globe 
without their being discovered. There- 
fore, after her foolish alarm over Bettina 
and her unconventional Indian friendship, 
she had concluded not to be so nervous a 
second time, but to tmst to the discretion 
of the girls themselves. 

Among the seven Camp Fire girls Gerry 
was exceptionally pretty and so could not 
fail to receive attention. But not for a 
single moment did Mrs. Burton dream that 
there was anything more than a superficial 
attraction between Gerry and Felipe. Of 
course she considered Gerry too young, not 
realizing that Felipe Morris was four years 
her senior and that Gerry’s history had 
made her older than most girls of her age. 

Yet after the verdict was reached and the 
actors secured, there still remained many 
details to be settled, the most important 
being the selection of the characters for the 
production of the Shakespearean comedy. 
Then, although there was a good deal of 
discussion, and Mrs. Burton allowed a 


YOU LIKE IT 


143 


free expression of opinion, in each choice 
she remained the court of final decision. 

It was she who at the beginning of the 
discussion settled upon Marta Clark for 
the character of CeZia, sweet cousin to 
Rosalind and second only in importance. 
In consequence Marta, who had not ex- 
pected the honor, suffered a confusion of 
emotions, surprise, pleasure, alarm! Mrs. 
Burton had not forgotten their absurd first 
meeting, nor Marta^s shy confession of an 
ambition to follow in her footsteps. If 
she had ability — ^and it was more than 
probable since her brother had lately 
written a clever play showing a dramatic 
gift in the family — Mrs. Burton had every 
intention of aiding Marta in her desire 
when the right moment arrived. This 
would be but a slight return in memory 
of the friend who so generously had helped 
her in the old days. 

Moreover, Mrs. Burton felt that she 
and Marta must learn to know each other 
better. To play beside her as Celiaj to be 
with each other constantly at rehearsals 
would not only afford her the chance to 
test Marta^s talent, but would give them 
an opportunity to become better friends. 


144 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Marta possessed vivacity, a love of 
poetry and of nature; these things Mrs. 
Burton had found out. Also her face de- 
pended upon the passing mood for its 
charm, a superior gift to beauty in an emo- 
tional actress. 

Gerry Williams and Peggy were to imper- 
sonate Phebe, a shepherdess, and Audrey^ 
a country wench, after a good-natured 
argument in which Peggy insisted upon this 
division of honors because of Gerry’s 
superior prettiness. 

Touchstone , the gay clown in ^‘As You 
Like It, ” sings several of the most charming 
ballads in all Shakespeare. Because of his 
beautiful voice and his grace as a dancer 
Mrs. Burton begged Felipe Morris to play 
Touchstone^ and he appeared pleased to 
accept. 

Lieutenant Carson agreed to portray 
JaqueSy whose soliloquy, ^'All the world’s 
a stage, ” is one of the greatest speeches in 
English literature. 

Dan Webster determined upon the char- 
acter of Adam, servant to Orlando, while 
Billy Webster together with Sally Ashton 
refused to show the slightest interest in the 
approaching performance. 


YOU LIKE IT 


145 


The other members of the cast were the 
officers and soldiers from the nearby can- 
tonment. They expressed a great deal of 
enthusiasm over the relief the rehearsals 
afforded from the hard physical labor of 
these early days of their army training. 
Moreover, they would not even attempt to 
express their pleasure in associating so 
informally with a number of agreeable girls. 

Bettina, Alice and Vera Lagerloff were 
to be ladies-in-waiting at the court of the 
Duke. 

If Sally Ashton’s refusal to play any part 
was due to her inherent indolence, Billy’s 
lack of interest was ascribable to the 
whoUy opposite cause. 

Now and then for a passing moment when 
she had time to think of her always erratic 
nephew, Mrs. Burton wished that Billy had 
been yielding to his usual slothfulness. 
But recently he had awakened to an amaz- 
ing energy and was working as he never had 
worked in his life. 

After his brief conversation with Lieu- 
tenant Carson, for no reason which he 
chose to explain, Billy proceeded to find 
out whatever was possible in regard to the 


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details of the new war camps. The monthly 
magazines and newspapers to which his 
aunt, or any one else at Sunrise camp 
subscribed, he searched diligently for all 
war information. Then he would disappear 
on long walks, announcing on his return 
that he had been over in the direction of 
the new National Guard cantonment, 
following the railroad tracks which had 
recently been laid from the city. 

Finally he imparted the surprising 
information that he had secured work as a 
day laborer at the war camp, Mr. Jefferson 
Simpson having vouched for him. More- 
over, Billy declared that he had given his 
aunt^s name as a security for his trust- 
worthiness and that Captain Mason had 
remembered his original visit to camp with 
Mrs. Burton^s party. 

Of Billyhs value as a day laborer his 
family and friends felt extremely uncertain. 
But Billy explained that he was only 
expected to stand around and to hand the 
carpenters who were at work the tools they 
happened to need at the moment. He also 
carried buckets of water back and forth 
and in short did whatever chores he was 
ordered to do. 


AS YOU LIKE IT 


147 


Mrs. Webster and Peggy were touched 
by BiUy^s unexpected display of patriotism, 
knowing how abhorrent labor of this kind 
had always been to him. Never, except 
under absolute coercion, had Billy ever 
performed the slightest manual work upon 
their own farm! 

Mrs. Burton, Dan Webster and even the 
usually trustful Vera were not so enthusi- 
astic over BiUy^s latest departure. With- 
out confessing the fact, they suffered vague 
discomfort. 

What possible plan had Billy in mind? 
If one only could beheve he had chosen this 
method of doing his bit I” But this would 
have been a commonplace attitude, and 
Billy was never commonplace. 

There were moments when Mrs. Burton 
wondered if Billy were intent upon preach- 
ing his childish ideas upon pacifism and 
had chosen the one place where they would 
be most troublesome and dangerous! How- 
ever, she was too deeply absorbed in making 
a success of the play which she and the 
Camp Fire girls had undertaken to allow 
much time to the consideration of her 
nephew. 


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The Camp Fire girls were learning to 
know their guardian in a new light. Under 
ordinary circumstances she was extremely 
lenient and more than willing to allow 
them to do as they liked. 

But now they were to see her not in a 
holiday mood, but as an artist at work at 
her task. Since they had insisted upon the 
production of '^As You Like It,’^ the pen- 
alty rested upon them. Therefore she 
would suffer no idleness and accept no 
excuses for delay or carelessness. 

At one of the rehearsals, Peggy having 
appeared uncertain of her lines, was pub- 
licly lectured and sent back to her tent 
with the suggestion that if she were 
unwilling to do her duty, some one else 
had best take her place. 


CHAPTER XIII 


Human Psychology 

B illy WEBSTER, who had diffi- 
culty in living peacefully and happily 
with the people in his own walk of 
life, possessed a curious genius for making 
himself popular with the so-called ^'working 
classes/’ 

At first the workmen at the new National 
Guard camp paid no especial attention to 
the delicate looking boy who suddenly 
appeared among them. But in a short 
time BiUy proved unexpectedly useful. 

For one thing he made no effort to talk. 
He merely stood about in places where he 
thought he might be of service, doing what 
he was told and asking no questions. Sev- 
eral times he displayed an intelligent 
initiative. And when each man is trying 
to do the work of two or three, every small 
saving of unnecessary effort through some 
one else counts. 

At the present time there were fifteen 

( 149 ) 


150 


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hundred laborers employed on the canton- 
ment. They were building barracks and 
smaU wooden bungalows and large store- 
houses for provisions and supplies from the 
ordnance and quartermaster departments. 
Every hour or so freight had to be un- 
loaded from cars, so that they might be 
removed from the tracks and others take 
their place. 

The soldiers were more often employed 
in the construction of roads and the clearing 
away of a century^s growth of underbrush. 

There was little in the camp that escaped 
BiUy’s quiet observation. The very fact 
that he did not talk, when ordinarily he 
had a passion as weU as a gift for conversa- 
tion was in itself a suspicious circumstance. 

For once in his life Billy was finding it 
more worth while to listen and receive 
information rather than to impart his ovm. 
ideas. 

At first the great drawback was that the 
laborers did not have time, or else they did 
not feel the inclination to talk at aU seri- 
ously. They would simply exchange jokes 
with one another, or sing snatches of 
popular songs. 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 151 


The laborers belonged to a company 
under bond to the government that there 
would be no traitors employed at the war 
camps. Therefore if the men held any 
views connected with the war, they gave no 
expression to them. Moreover, the oflBcers 
and soldiers were constantly in and out 
among the men at all hours. Nevertheless, 
Billy became more and more convinced 
that if a man were willing to sacrifice his 
own life in case he were discovered, it was 
impossible even with the strictest regula- 
tions to avoid the peril of a spy. 

One day at lunch time the boy was sitting 
alone in the shadow made by a pile of 
lumber, which afforded a little relief from 
the heat of the noon sun, when two of his 
fellow laborers came and sat down only a 
few feet away. They saw him, of course, 
but seemed not to resent his presence; 
so, after smiling with the innocent, boyish 
expression peculiar to him, Billy continued 
eating. He brought his lunch with him 
every day in a basket as the other laborers 
did. 

One of the two men, whom he thought a 
Swede, was rather an especial friend, 


152 


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although the only fashion in which they so 
far had expressed their friendliness was by 
smiling whenever they met. 

He was a dull, good-natured fellow, 
blond and mild of manner. Seems a pity 
to have to bring all these boys away from 
their homes and their mothers and sweet- 
hearts to plant them down in this desert 
in the heat of summer,^’ he remarked to 
his companion, after he had bitten off a 
large hunk of sour bread and was slowly 
chewing on it like a cud. Finally, taking 
out his soiled handkerchief, he wiped the 
perspiration from his forehead. 

^'I have not been in the West very long, 
and it is sure enough God^s country? the 
blond workman went on. ^^But what a lot 
of waste land waiting for men to water and 
then plough and sow it! I thought aU this 
desert land was soon to be redeemed 
and now all the young men have to go 
away from their own country into another 
land to fight. Sometimes it^s a hard thing 
for a duU, common man to understand the 
good of war.’’ 

BiUy stopped eating and shd over a few 
feet nearer. His blue eyes were beginning 
to shine. 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 153 


Wouldn’t it be great if each man who 
has pledged his life to serve his country 
would do some deed which would save 
life instead of taking it?” he demanded. 
Then Billy paused and grew hot and cold 
by turns. He was not very sure of what 
he was trying to argue except in a vague 
fashion, and there was something about his 
last remark which held a suggestion of 
treason. He did not intend being disloyal. 
It was only that his preconceived ideas of 
right and VTong had been greatly troubled 
by the present war, and Billy was not 
willing to accept conditions as he found 
them, possessing the spirit which must 
solve its own problems. 

He reddened as he found his new 
acquaintances staring at him suspiciously. 

^^Then you think peace brings the great 
mass of the people better fortune than war?” 
asked the other man, who had been quiet 
until now. He was a little, dark man, 
probably of Italian origin. 

Billy hesitated. ^^I don’t know,” he 
answered, “I only believe peace should 
make men wiser and kinder to each other. 
But recently everything has gotten so 


154 


BEHIND THE LINES 


dreadfully mixed in my mind, I canT be 
sure of anything. Perhaps I am mistaken. 

^^War has to be, young man, Billyhs 
mild-mannered friend announced, nodding 
his head. 

“Yes, that is what everybody says, the 
boy agreed. 

Then the somewhat pointless conversa- 
tion was obliged to end, as the hour for 
lunch had passed. 

Among the experiences which BiUy Web- 
ster was particularly enjoying at this time 
were his long walks back and forth from the 
place where he was spending his nights to 
the scene of his daily labors. 

For, hteraUy, he only spent his nights at 
the Sunrise camp. He arrived at home 
after the others had finished dinner, and 
rose and went away each morning just 
after daylight. But instead of the long, 
fatiguing walks, added to the unusual work 
of the war camp, injuring BiUy’s health 
— ^never had he appeared so strong and 
well. 

Not that any one, aside from his mother, 
was paying particular attention to Billyhs 
vagaries. Even Vera Lagerloff, for the 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 155 


first time in their long friendship, tempo- 
rarily was neglecting Billy’s welfare in her 
enthusiasm over the approaching production 
of '^As You Like It.” 

However, Billy rejoiced in his new 
freedom. 

He took pleasure in slipping out of his 
tent in the early morning, leaving Dan still 
asleep. Then he would prepare his own 
breakfast of coffee, fruit and eggs which 
were always left where he could readily find 
them. Afterwards, with his basket of 
lunch that his mother made ready the 
night before, Billy would move quietly off. 

Even the dawns in this southwestern 
world were unlike the dawns Billy remem- 
bered in his own New Hampshire hills. 
Not that he would have claimed the New 
Hampshire hills as his possession because 
of a mere accident of birth. BiUy cared 
infinitely more for the softness, the warmth 
and strangeness of this new country and 
climate than he had ever cared for the 
austerity of New England. It was awaken- 
ing in him new strength and new purposes 
which so far he scarcely understood. 

The way the dawn broke here in the 


156 


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western coast Billy particularly loved; it 
was so serene. There was not the drear, 
melancholy darkness and then the swift 
coming of light. But first a pearl-gray 
mist covered the sky, afterwards lavender 
and rose shone behind it and finally a pure 
gold, with the ocean as a mirror of the sky. 

A part of the trip he could make by street 
car, nevertheless this left many miles to be 
traveled at either end of the line. 

However, as Billy wished to think things 
out for himself, these walks afforded a 
wonderful opportunity. The difficulty of 
his hfe had always been due to his refusal 
to accept any judgment except his own. He 
honestly could not understand why his 
family even thought they had the right to 
interfere with him. Yet now he was up 
against the great fact of human discipline, 
the law which so often forces us to submit 
to a higher power. 

The boys at the National Guard camp 
were not much older than himself, at 
least some of them were not. Nevertheless 
they were engaged upon tasks which he 
knew must be hard and distasteful and 
were prepared to face far worse things later 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 157 


on. Some of them had thought the 
question over for a long time, nearly three 
years in fact, until they were prepared to 
fight the enemy, body and soul, to a finish. 
Others of the soldiers were not given to 
thinking, but were obeying a good fighting 
instinct. All of them, however, were ac- 
knowledging an authority higher than their 
own and obeying a higher will. 

Often Billy wondered how he should feel 
if the war lasted long enough to make the 
same demand upon him? Would he give 
up his belief in peace and the unrighteous- 
ness of war to serve as a common soldier in 
the ranks? And even if he did do this, 
was it in him to make a good soldier, to 
sacrifice himself for a common cause? 
Sometimes Billy prayed to be delivered from 
the test. 

Yet whatever his own mental problems, 
there was one big fact of which Billy became 
daily more assured and that was his tre- 
mendous personal admiration for the new 
National Guard soldiers. Certainly theirs 
was the road of heroism and self-sacrifice, 
while the pacifists, even if right in principle, 
were skulking behind the protection the 
soldiers gave to them. 


158 


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There were moments when Billy became 
a little scornful of the pacifists, himself 
included, who preferred the easiest way. 

Ordinarily the boy took his long tramps 
to and from camp alone, but on the day 
after his brief conversation with the two 
workmen, the men joined him at the close 
of the day, walking for a short distance one 
on either side. BiUy felt absurdly proud, 
as if the men at last regarded him as one of 
them. They even spoke of labor unions 
in his presence and BiUy was glad to 
announce that he approved of unions. 

Afterwards, perhaps four or five days 
later, Billy did not return to the Sunrise 
camp, even at the comparatively late hour 
which had become his habit. 

Mrs. Webster suffered a good deal of 
uneasiness. Billy explained that he had 
been compelled to go into the nearest town 
on important business, so she was not to 
worry. One could scarcely say beforehand 
what demands war work might make upon 
one^s time and strength. 

Mrs. Webster steeled herself to bear the 
strain, even when Billyhs new passion for 
helping to win the war kept him away from 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 159 


the Sunrise camp until nearly midnight for 
several nights in succession. 

Just at this time she was extremely busy 
assisting with the preparation of the cos- 
tumes for the Sunrise Camp Fire produc- 
tion of '‘As You Like It.^' In spite of the 
fact that Mrs. Bmton had sent east for 
several trunks of costumes, there were 
many alterations to be made, and every 
member of the entire cast, maid and man, 
asked of Mrs. Webster either advice or aid, 
or both. 

No matter how great her weariness, Mrs. 
Webster always remained awake until her 
son's return, in order that she might know 
he was weU and have him eat a carefully 
saved-over dinner. 

Gently Billy endeavored to persuade his 
mother to give up this plan, insisting that 
he always had food in town. But although 
Mrs. Webster made no effort to interfere 
with his actions, on this one point she was 
adamant. She must be sure that her son 
was safely at camp in order to be able to 
sleep. 

Eealizing this to be true, for several nights 
Billy returned to camp at the usual time. 


160 


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Then a night arrived when he reached home 
even later than before. 

It chanced that on this night, without 
Billy’s being aware of the fact, Mrs. Burton 
and her cast had been going through a dress 
rehearsal of their play. 

When Billy finally reached camp, the 
Sunrise Hill tents were dark and still. 

Yet to the left a camp fire was burning 
and a woman’s figure was seated near it. 

A pang of remorse stirred Billy, in spite 
of his own weariness. 

Coming forward with his arms out- 
stretched, instead of his mother, he dis- 
covered Vera Lagerloff. 

Goodness, Vera, I never saw you look 
so wonderful!” Billy exclaimed, bowing 
with the air of a courtier and a grace which 
he knew well how to assume. 

For Vera was wearing a court costume, 
a skirt of a deep rose-colored satin and a 
polonaise and basque of white with a design 
of roses. 

Her dark hair was piled high on her head 
and her cheeks were slightly rouged, since 
every preparation for the actual stage 
performance had been made. 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 161 


Billy had never seen Vera so handsome, 
nor dreamed it possible that she could ever 
look as she did tonight. But then Billy 
had thought little of Vera’s appearance, or 
of that of any other girl. He had simply 
cared for her with a curious boyish selfish- 
ness and affection. Unconsciously he 
always planned his future with Vera beside 
him to hear of his trials and conquests, but 
had never thought of how this could be 
managed. 

Yet tonight Vera paid no attention to his 
unusual flattery. 

Her expression suggested annoyance and 
reproach. 

Wait here, Billy, I’ll find you something 
to eat. I made your mother go to bed and 
she and Mrs. Burton agreed that I might 
wait for you.” 

But Billy would not let her go. “ I’m not 
hungry, Vera. Besides you look like a queen, 
not a kitchen maid. What’s up? Fire away.” 

“That is what I wish to have you tell 
me,” Vera returned, with the deep and 
abiding gentleness, which usually overcame 
Billy’s obstinacy where other people and 
other methods failed. 


11 


162 


BEHIND THE LINES 


He laughed. '^1 the ght as much. 
Nothing doing, Vera. I am not going to 
teU anybody anything. Yes, I know I 
promised not to get into mischief again, 
after that last escapade of mine. But 
what did it amoimt to, going to jail for a 
httle while, it was merely an interesting 
experience!^’ 

Billy took Vera’s hand in his own almost 
equally slender one, since Vera’s was the 
hand of a peasant ancestry and Billy’s the 
opposite. 

^^See here, dear, I am not sorry to have 
you and mother and Tante begin worrying 
about me, fearing I am going to do some- 
thing foolish. You never seem to think 
me capable of anything else. But this 
time, between you and me, Vera, if I could 
teU you what is interesting me right now — 
and I confess it is not only my work at the 
war camp, although it has a close connec- 
tion — well, I don’t believe you would 
consider me foolish.” 

^^Then, why won’t you tell me what is 
interesting you, BiUy? You know I don’t 
always think ideas are foolish, but often- 
times I don’t think your judgment wise. 


HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY 163 


Besides, I am afraid something may happen 
to you!’’ 

Billy shook his head, still holding her 
hand with boyish affection. 

These are war times, Vera. You and I 
used to disagree on the subject — one of the 
first questions we have ever seriously dis- 
agreed upon since we were little children. 
Anyhow, what I am interested in at present 
has something to do with the war. I can- 
not tell you details, as I must not confide 
in any one just now. Only promise me 
you’ll see that mother does not worry and 
that neither she nor Tante makes a scene to 
try to force me into giving up my present 
work. I should simply go on with it any- 
how, Vera.” 

Vera sighed. The problem of BiUy Web- 
ster had always been too much for other 
people. Was he in iLe future to become a 
problem too big for her? 


CHAPTER XIV 


The Night of the Play 

D uring the weeks of rehearsal 
before the performance of “As You 
Like Itj” the Camp Fire girls and 
the young officers and soldiers from the 
National Guard camp had delightful oppor- 
tunities for developing new friendships. 

When the emotion which existed between 
Felipe Morris and Gerry Williams became 
more than an ordinary friendship, the 
chances for exchanging confidences were 
more frequent than one would readily 
guess. 

Felipe possessed a talent for pursuing 
the ends he desired in a quiet, unostentatious 
fashion. There were moments when 
merely passing by Gerry with other people 
near, he would whisper a few words which 
only she could hear. Then, when neither 
of them expected to be called for their 
share in a rehearsal, they used to slip 

( 164 ) 


THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY 165 


away together to some secluded place for 
more intimate conversations. 

The final rehearsals took place at the 
open-air theater near one of the most 
fashionable seaside resorts in southern 
Cahfornia, and Felipe was familiar with 
the coast and the surrounding country. 

There were no long, dull waits for them 
between the moments when they were 
actually upon the stage, no sense of fatigue 
and boredom of which the other amateur 
players occasionally complained. 

Gerry appeared to be happy to listen 
and Felipe to talk to her indefinitely. 

Of course the other actors were aware of 
Gerry’s and Felipe’s interest in each other 
and tried teasing them now and then, but 
since neither denied the fact, the effort 
lost its piquancy. 

Nor were Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Webster 
entirely blind, although they did not accept 
the situation seriously. It was ridiculous 
to presume that every friendship between a 
girl and a man must be regarded with 
solemnity. Nevertheless it is more than 
possible that if Mrs. Burton had not been 
so absorbed in the coming performance she 


166 


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would have noticed some tell-tale circum- 
stances. Her extreme preoccupation was 
her chief excuse. 

She did mention to her sister several 
times that she never had seen Gerry look 
so pretty or appear as happy as she had 
for the past few weeks. 

“Why, the child is like a field of wild 
flowers; her hair is the color of buttercups, 
her eyes are cornflowers and her cheeks ” 

But here Mrs. Burton^s flow of imagery 
had been stopped by Mrs. Webster’s protest. 

“Please don’t be so absurd, PoUy. You 
know conversation of that character merely 
strikes me as foolish.” So Mrs. Burton 
had laughed and the subject of Gerry was 
dismissed. 

Gerry was becoming aware of a change in 
her own life, not in her mere appearance, 
but in a way far deeper. There were 
moments when she even hoped her own 
drab, lonely existence was past forever and 
that a life as radiant as these past weeks 
would endure. She tried not to hope too 
much from Felipe’s manner and the kind 
things he said to her now and then. Of 
course she was too young for him to think 


THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY 167 


of seriously. Nevertheless Gerry could 
not refrain from occasionally seeing a happy 
image of herself at the old ranch with 
Fehpe and his father! 

In her dream the old house was not in its 
present dilapidated condition, but had been 
made beautiful and luxurious following the 
plans which Felipe had more than once 
confided to her. 

For always he talked of beautifying his 
old home and of his music and travel and 
of other delightful things, but never of war, 
or self-sacrifice, or hard work. 

Felipe had not been informed v/hether his 
claim for exemption from war service had 
been accepted, and yet he seemed to regard 
the matter as settled. 

So Gerry also forgot what was going on 
in the world about them, forgot what was 
being required of other young men, even 
though she had daily talks with the soldiers. 

But at last the night for the public per- 
formance of “As You Like It” arrived. 

The Camp Fire girls had not erred in 
their prediction that their guardian^s 
reputation was sufficient to insure them 
a large audience. Mrs. Burton had se- 


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cured the aid of a weU-known California 
actor, Arthur Whitney, to play Orlando to 
her Rosalind, For the past two weeks he 
had been living in one of the hotels near the 
open-air theater, where he had many friends. 

In the neighboring cities and towns the 
newspapers had devoted columns of unpaid 
advertising to notices of the play and the 
opportunity it afforded for seeing the 
famous American actress. Added to this 
was the fact that the proceeds from the 
performance were to be devoted to the 
recreation fund for the boys in the southern 
California cantonment. 

Long before the night of the performance, 
every ticket of admission to the theater 
had been sold, and as much standing room 
as possible. 

Fronting the entrance to the open-air 
theater stood three or four palm trees so 
trimmed as to give the effect of a green 
canopy. 

Inside the theater were rows of rustic 
benches and in the foregroimd the open-air 
stage surrounded by a background of 
shrubs. Around the enclosure was a thick 
hedge. 


THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY 169 


Once inside the little theater and one was 
in so unique a setting, it was as if one were 
shut away in an enchanted world. 

No more charming place could have been 
discovered for the performance of Shakes- 
peare^s comedy. The atmosphere and the 
scenery of the “Forest of Arden were 
already secure. 

A thrill of anticipation ran through the 
audience with the tinkling of a number of 
bells to announce the opening of the play. 

Then the actors entered from behind a 
screen of shrubs to the left of the stage. 
The first conversation is between Orlando 
and old Adam. 

The real interest of the audience waited, 
of course, upon the appearance of the star, 
and soon after Rosalind and Celia appeared 
on the lawn before the Duke^s palace. 

Mrs. Burton had played the character of 
Rosalind many times; the courage and 
gaiety of one of the most charming of all 
Shakespeare’s heroines were essentially her 
own characteristics. 

Tonight, on making her entrance, she had 
to pause for a moment to acknowledge the 
storm of applause. The first speech was 


170 


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Mortals, and Mrs. Burton was glad of the 
respite, remembering her own tragic first 
appearance and wondering if Marta could 
be suffering half so much. 

Several times before the actual perform- 
ance, she had been afraid that her solicitude 
for her amateur company would seriously 
interfere with her own acting. 

Marta managed her first speech as Celia 
bravely. If one recalls her line, it is a brief 
one: 

^^I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be 
merry. 

Then Rosalind takes the center of the 
stage and while she is there, but few eyes 
are turned away from her. AU the grace 
and charm of the one-time Polly O’Neill 
returned to the great actress in the hours 
when she was playing, and now added to 
her natural gifts were the long years of 
experience and training. 

Tonight Mrs. Burton’s voice charmed her 
audience with its peculiar magic, her every 
movement kept one fascinated. 

Marta Clark too scored a distinct success 
as Celia. She had been awkward and self- 
conscious at rehearsals and no one had 


THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY 171 


believed in her. But whether she needed 
the spur of the actual production, or had 
learned more than any one realized from 
playing with Mrs. Burton, certainly she 
showed unusual ease and pliancy for an 
amateur actress. More than once during 
the performance Mrs. Burton managed to 
whisper her congratulations, stirring Marta 
to fresh efforts. 

Gerry did not do a great deal of acting, 
but as Phebe she was such a ravishingly 
pretty shepherdess that one thought of 
little else. Peggy’s character study of 
Audrey, the country wench, showed such 
an amusing combination of stupidity and 
common sense that in spite of the unim- 
portance of the part, she won a real triumph. 

Lieutenant Carson at least presented a 
fine appearance as the melancholy Jaques, 

The one failure among the company of 
youthful artists was Felipe Morris, upon 
whose natural ability Mrs. Burton and all 
the other players had depended. 

It was surprising, for during all the 
rehearsals Felipe had always acted so 
agreeably that even the stage manager had 
only words of praise for him. 


172 


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Yet the Touchstone who danced grace- 
fully out before the footlights on the 
occasion of the real performance was a 
different Touchstone. 

By a kind of natural ^ instinct Mrs. 
Burton instantly recognized the fact. Even 
through his make-up and his motley cos- 
tume of stripes and caps and bells, one 
could discern that Felipe^s thoughts were 
not concentrated upon his performance. 

Touchstone spoke his lines with the proper 
combination of drollery and impertinence, 
yet there was no suggestion of real wit 
or merriment. The very jangling of his 
bells was depressing. 

Once in a hurried moment behind the 
scenes Mrs. Burton managed to inquire: 
^Hs there an3d;hing the matter, Felipe? 
Are you not well? 

Felipe only laughed and shook his head. 

What should be the matter? Am I falling 
down on my part? I shall try and brace 
up in the next act.’^ 

If Touchstone was a failure in his acting, 
Felipe sang as never before. It was not 
Gerry alone, listening behind the scenes, 
who was completely fascinated. 


THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY 173 


One of Touchstone^s ballads is of the 
eternal romance of love and spring time. 
Felipe^s voice held a freshness, a clear 
sweetness that went straight to the hearts 
of his audience. 

'^It was a lover and his lass, 

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino. 

That o’er the green corn-field did pass 
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time. 
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; 
Sweet lovers love the spring.” 

The play was finally over, and if the 
curtain could not be rung down, at least 
the players bowed their thanks and fare- 
wells, standing together in a long line with 
Mrs. Burton in the center. 

In order that they might avoid the con- 
fusion and fatigue of meeting so many 
strangers and receiving their congratulations 
after the play had ended, Mrs. Burton 
previously had invited her company of 
actors to motor over to Sunrise camp to a 
supper party as soon as they could slip 
away. 

Gerry was returning in the motor with 
Mrs. Burton. 


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She chanced to be standing alone for a 
moment waiting for the others who were 
shaking hands with some new acquaint- 
ances, when Felipe Morris touched her 
upon the arm. 

“Gerry, I must speak to you by yourself 
tonight after we reach the Sunrise camp. 
Please, no matter what happens, let nothing 
interfere with my seeing you. I have 
something to tell you and something to ask 
you which will affect aU our future.’- 


CHAPTER XV 


'T Will Marry You, if Ever I 
Marry Woman 

O Gerry Williams it seemed as if 
their long supper party would never 



end. 


The supper was served outdoors on a 
number of snaaU tables. Through an acci- 
dent Gerry was seated at so great a distance 
from Felipe that it was not possible to see 
his face and so guess from his expression 
something of what he desired to tell her. 

Gerry was puzzled. If what he wished to 
say had to do with their future happiness, 
why had he looked so disturbed? And why 
should it be imperative that he make his 
confession tonight? 

Already it was late, past midnight, and 
they were both weary. There would be 
tomorrow and other days. 

Really she would have preferred not to 
talk with Felipe alone tonight. To slip 
away from the others would be difficult. 


(175 


176 


BEHIND THE LINES 


and without Mrs. Burton’s consent Gerry 
did not like the idea. Yet she did not dare 
ask for permission, being convinced that 
because of the lateness of the hour her 
request would be refused. 

She felt that she must do what Felipe 
had begged of her. There had been 
something in his manner at once imperative 
and beseeching. 

An unaccustomed shyness, almost a sense 
of fear, had seized upon Gerry; neverthe- 
less she was prepared to foUow Felipe’s 
bidding, no matter how difficult. 

To eat or talk gaily to the others was 
hard. In a half-hearted fashion, Gerry 
accomplished both results. 

Immediately after the supper was finished 
the guests began saying their farewells. 

The hour was long past the one when 
the young officers and soldiers were required 
to return to the cantonment. But owing to 
the play and Mrs. Burton’s efforts in their 
behalf, they had received a special permit 
from the officer in command of their camp 
to remain away several hours later than 
their regulations demanded. 

In the midst of the good-bys Gerry and 
Felipe moved swiftly toward each other. 


WILL MARRY YOU 


177 


We must get away noWj Felipe, while no 
one is thinking of us. I can only talk to 
you for a moment.^’ 

Even as she spoke Gerry was walking 
toward the beach with the young man 
following. In this way at least what they 
had to say to each other would not be 
overheard. There was no nearby place 
where they could actually escape obser- 
vation. 

In front of Sunrise camp the beach 
stretched long and level, broken only by 
small rocks, which aifforded a shadow, not 
a shelter. Behind the little group of tents 
and Mrs. Burton’s house were the level 
fields of a great ranch. There were no 
trees worthy of the name in sight. 

^^But I can’t say what I must to you in 
one minute, Gerry. I must have time to 
explain many things. Surely you will go 
somewhere else with me. Here on the 
open beach we may be interrupted at any 
moment.” 

Gerry only moved on more rapidly. ^'I 
don’t know where else to go, Felipe. 
We can walk along the beach until perhaps 
we are out of sight of the others. Then 


12 


178 


BEHIND THE LINES 


afterwards I can teU Mrs. Burton that we 
only intended taking a short walk.’^ 

''Very weU, Felipe murmured, but Gerry 
could guess that he was annoyed. 

"I suppose to a girl, Gerry, conventions 
are dearer than anything else in life. So 
since what I intend is to ask you to break 
one of them, perhaps I might as weU not 
speak to you,’’ he began, when they had 
nearly reached the water. 

The ocean was not so calm as usual 
tonight on this particular line of coast. 
Great waves were roUing in, breaking and 
curhng in white spirals of foam. If there 
had been a storm, it was somewhere out 
in the ocean, for although there was no 
moon the stars were everywhere a shining 
glory. 

"I don’t know what you mean, Felipe,” 
Gerry answered quietly. 

She was still wearing her lovely shep- 
herdess costume of pale blue and white, 
the pointed bodice and panniers of blue 
satin, the skirt and sleeves of muslin and 
lace. Mrs. Burton had insisted on Gerry’s 
using a long white coat which was her 
property, so coming back in the motor she 


WILL MARRY YOU^^ 179 


had slipped this on over her dress. Now 
the wind was blowing the coat open, reveal- 
ing the soft comeliness of the satin and lace 
costume beneath. 

Her shepherdess hat she had discarded 
and instead had tied a blue chiffon scarf 
around her hair. 

Nevertheless, in spite of her frivolous 
and charming costume, Gerry Williams^ 
expression was entirely serious. 

^^No, of course you do not understand. 
I am sorry, ” Felipe apologized. You see, 
it has been such a horrible evening for me 
with all the foolishness of the play and my 
acting a clovn’s part, when I have been 
wishing every minute to get you away and 
tell you what has happened. 

^^But what has happened?” Gerry 
inquired anxiously and yet with patience. 

'^The exemption board has refused my 
claim. I only heard the pleasant news late 
this afternoon, ” Felipe answered. 

Gerry’s first sensation was one of intense 
personal sympathy. 

Simply and naturally she slipped her hand 
inside Felipe’s. 

don’t know what to say to you. I am 


180 


BEHIND THE LINES 


so grieved for you. It is too dreadful, 
your being forced to join the army when 
you so hate the whole idea. CanT some- 
thing more be done? Surely you and your 
father must have influence out here!’’ 

Felipe shook his head. ^Hnfluence does 
not count; besides, if father has any influ- 
ence he would not use it in my behalf, not 
in this connection. When I told him this 
afternoon what had occurred he merely 
said: H wish you had done your duty in 
the beginning, my son, without bringing 
the stigma of disgrace upon our name by 
trying to escape your responsibility. I 
did not suppose your claim for exemption 
would be considered, as your excuse was 
too flimsy.’ ” 

For an instant Gerry hesitated, then she 
said, her voice shaking. do not mean 
to be rude, but I can not understand your 
father. You are his only son and are no 
relation to me, and yet it does not seem to 
me I can bear your going over to France, 
where you will be so unhappy, where you 
may be wounded. But I must not talk of 
these things. How soon must you begin 
your training, Felipe, and do you think 
you wiU be in a camp near your home? 


WILL MARRY YOU^’ 181 


Until this instant Gerry had not con- 
sidered herself, had not realized the failure 
of her dream. Now she had a little sinking 
sense of loneliness and disappointment. 
Nevertheless Felipe was still first in her 
thoughts. 

wish I could do something to help 

you.’^ 

^^You can, Gerry, Felipe returned, 
strengthening his hold on her hand. I am 
not going to be drafted, Gerry. I am going 
over the border into Mexico tomorrow to 
remain until the war is over. I told you 
that I had no difficulty in being taken for a 
Mexican. I can speak the language and 
I don’t look unlike one. This isn’t an 
entirely new idea on my part, for I have 
been thinking and planning what I should 
do if my exemption claim were refused. 
I tell you I can not endure a soldier’s 
existence, the dirt and the hard work and 
the discipline and then worse, blood and 
suffering and death. For even if all this 
does not come to me, I must see it. Oh, 
I know I am not a man, Gerry, and you 
probably despise me for feeling like this. 
But I can not help it. I was born for 


182 


BEHIND THE LINES 


beauty and happiness, for music and — well, 
we are not all made alike/’ 

^^No, Felipe, I don’t despise you; I think 
I understand, ” Gerry replied instantly. 
But there was no question with her of 
understanding. She was thinking of 
Felipe’s happiness, of his safety. ^Hsn’t it 
pretty dangerous what you are planning 
to do? If you are caught won’t you be 
imprisoned?” she asked. 

Felipe nodded. “Yes, but I am going 
to take the chance. It is worth the danger 
to me.” 

“You are intending to say good-by to 
me tonight then?” Gerry questioned. “I 
am glad you told me. No one in the 
world will ever be able to force your secret 
from me.” 

“Then you could be brave for my sake? ” 
Felipe denaanded. 

But when Gerry did not answer, he began 
walking impatiently up and down within a 
few feet of her. 

“I don’t know what to say or do, Gerry,” 
he continued after a moment. “I am not a 
rogue and I do not want to do you an 
injustice. But you told me once that you 


WILL MARRY YOU 


183 


had no people of your own, that your father 
is dead and that your mother always has 
left you in common boarding houses, with 
no one to look after you, since you were a 
tiny girl. You told me that you had no real 
friend until Mrs. Burton took a fancy to 
you and has tried to give you some happi- 
ness. Now I can’t bear the thought of 
your going so far away to live by yourself 
when 1 care for you so much. After tonight 
we may never even be able to see each other 
again in many years. Still I realize that 
you are very young, Gerry, and the fact 
that I am four or five years older makes 
the whole thing much more my responsi- 
bility than yours. Besides there is the 
danger of your crossing into Mexico with 
me and being forced to live there, one 
cannot say how long.” 

Gerry appeared utterly bewildered and 
unhappy. But what do you mean, Felipe? 
I don’t think I understand you.” 

mean I am asking you to marry me, 
Gerry,” Felipe answered with an entire 
softening of his manner and expression. 
^^But I realize I am asking you more than 
that, because I want you to marry me 


184 


BEHIND THE LINES 


without telling any one and then slip over 
the border into Mexico with me to live 
until the war is past. If anything happens 
and I am caught, why, at least you will be 
safe, for my father wiU look after you. I 
did not want to ask you to marry me in this 
way, Gerry, I do not like the idea any 
more than you do. I had planned to teU 
you I cared for you and to teU Mrs. Burton 
also. I was even willing to wait for a year 
or more if you both thought it necessary. 
But now this difficulty of mine alters 
everything, and these are war times, when 
one is not expected to behave in an ordinary 
fashion.’’ 

In order to insure his own way, Felipe 
was in truth a good pleader. Besides, 
Gerry was already deeply under his 
influence. 

Now Felipe’s unexpected request naade 
her both happy and unhappy, for she could 
not fail to be glad that he cared for her, 
although she knew she had no right to agree 
to his request. 

The ethical side of the question of Felipe’s 
intention to escape military service appar- 
ently made no impression upon Gerry one 


WILL MARRY YOU'^ 


185 


way or the other; the question seemed so 
entirely his to decide. Her feeling was 
merely that she could not bear to marry him 
and not tell even Mrs. Burton until after- 
wards. 

If she were a little older she believed 
the situation would have appeared less 
formidable, then she would have had a 
clearer right to decide for herself. Under 
the circumstances she must not consider 
Felipe’s suggestion even for a moment. 

Yet she had only to answer, ^^No,” 
and things would be as before. 

For Felipe himself was uncertain and 
frightened of what he was asking. If he 
did not appreciate the full selfishness and 
wrong of it, nevertheless he did realize it 
in part. Gerry^faced the alternative before 
replying. If she refused Felipe’s offer, in a 
little while she must return to Chicago to take 
up her old existence in a common boarding 
house with nothing in her future except to 
learn to make her own living. But these 
things were no longer so important, the one 
important fact was that she might be losing 
Felipe forever. 

Gerry cherished few illusions. If Felipe 


186 


BEHIND THE LINES 


were successful in escaping military service 
they could not meet again until the war 
was over and in that time many changes 
would have occurred. Would Felipe 
remember her, or would he be less lonely in 
his self-imposed exile if she were to spend 
it with him? Whatever trouble she and 
Felipe might have to face, would she not 
prefer to face it with him rather than have 
him leave her alone? 

'^I cannot bear to deceive Mrs. Burton, 
Felipe. I owe her so much; she has been 
kinder than I have ever told you, kinder 
than perhaps you imagine. Besides, I care 
for her a great deal and I donT see how such 
a diflScult idea as you have suggested can 
ever be arranged.’’ 

In Gerry’s last words lay her confession. 
Felipe had triumphed. Had she tried she 
might have persuaded him to face his obliga- 
tion, to make the sacrifice of himself which 
his country demanded. She was not equal 
to the test. 

^^But I do know how to manage,” Felipe 
answered. ^^And I shall be very careful. 
I understand certain things better than you 
do. I have an old nurse who is married 


I WILL MARRY YOU^^ 


187 


and lives not far away. She will come with 
us and stay with you until the ceremony is 
over. Afterwards she will return and 
explain what we have done to Mrs. Burton 
and my father. You can write and beg 
Mrs. Burton to forgive you; she will after 
a time, I am sure. We wiU be so happy, 
Gerry dear. I have plenty of money, as 
I drew aU I possessed out of the bank this 
afternoon. I am sure it will last us for a 
time and then I can get hold of more.’^ 

The thing which Gerry and Felipe were 
planning to do was not only a foolish thing; 
it held dishonor and sorrow, and yet neither 
of them at the time seemed to appreciate 
this. 

^^Be ready the day after tomorrow, please, 
Gerry. I’U ask Mrs. Burton to allow you 
to go for a walk or a drive with me. I 
promise you there shall be no difficulties. 
But, quick, good-night; some one is 
coming. 

Mrs. Burton herself was walking down 
the beach toward them. ^‘Come, Gerry, 
please, it is time you were in bed. I was 
frightened when I found you were not with 
the other girls. Felipe, I don^t think it 


188 


BEHIND THE LINES 


quite fair of you to have kept Gerry away 
from us so long. Will you thank your 
father for the roses he sent me tonight? 
Felipe held out his hand. 

'^You are awfuUy kind, Mrs. Burton, 
and I do deserve a scolding. Gerry and I 
had not realized how long we had been 
talking, as there are so many things we 
like saying to each other. Will you forgive 
me and let me come back soon again? ” 
Mrs. Burton put her arm about Gerry. 
'^Not too soon, please, Felipe. Good- 
night.’’ 


CHAPTER XVI 


Gerry^s Opportunity 

T he next day, weary from the long 
strain of the rehearsals and the 
final production of their play, and 
feeling a comfortable sense of relaxation 
following a labor well accomplished, the 
Sunrise Camp Fire members spent an 
unusually quiet day. 

Mrs. Burton remained in her little house 
resting and reading. 

After accomplishing the necessary domes- 
tic tasks, Mrs. Webster and the girls sat 
about in little groups, knitting and talking 
over the unexpectedly brilliant success of 
their play. 

Of the Camp Fire girls, Gerry Williams 
alone kept apart from the others for the 
greater part of the day. Now and then 
she would appear with her knitting and 
dropping down beside some one would 
remain for perhaps half an hour, but seldom 
longer. By the end of that time she seemed 

( 189 ) 


190 


BEHIND THE LINES 


to grow restless and would start ofif on 
walks by herself, but never a great distance 
from camp. Once disappearing inside her 
sleeping tent, which was unoccupied, she 
stayed there alone for several hours. 

No one paid any particular attention to 
Gerry or realiEed that she was in an unusual 
frame of mind. The Camp Fire girls had 
spent so many months together that they 
did not take one another’s moods seriously; 
besides, Gerry was not an especial favorite 
or intimate with any one of the girls except 
Sally Ashton. And Sally frequently con- 
sidered Gerry far too addicted to moods, 
which were disturbing to her own com- 
fortable placidity. 

Indeed, Gerry’s only real friend in the 
Sunrise Camp Fire, the only person who in 
any way understood her temperament and 
the circumstances of her past sufficiently 
well to offer her real sympathy and affection, 
was Mrs. Burton. 

On this same day it chanced that Dan 
Webster was away looking after a small 
business matter. 

Billy was engaged with his labors at the 
war camp. But now that the play was 


GERRTS OPPORTUNITY 191 


over Mrs. Webster was beginning to concern 
herself more seriously with the behavior 
of her erratic son. Billy had taken advan- 
tage of the absorption of his family and 
friends to continue to pursue his own way 
in an even more determined and secretive 
fashion. 

If Mrs. Burton had not spent the day 
inside her house, whether or not she would 
have observed Gerry^s restlessness, her 
troubled expression, her moments of pallor 
and the swift flush succeeding them, no one 
can say. 

Certainly all that day never for long did 
Gerry have Mrs. Burton out of her mind. 
First she would think of Felipe and what 
he had asked of her and then immediately 
after of Mrs. Burton’s friendship and 
kindness. 

The facts of Gerry’s life were common- 
place enough, but for that reason they 
seemed to Gerry the harder to endure. 

Her mother and father had married 
when they were young and clerking together 
in a small village store. After Gerry’s 
birth they conceived the idea of becoming 
traveling sales people. 


192 


BEHIND THE LINES 


When Gerry was a tiny child they tried 
taking her about with them, often leaving 
her alone for long, lonely hours in strange 
hotel rooms. After she grew older, arrange- 
ments were made for her to board in 
Chicago, the city her parents visited oftener 
than any other. But when Gerry was 
fourteen her father died and a year later 
her mother married a little town store 
keeper. 

It was at this time Gerry Williams 
realized she would be forced to face the 
future for herself. It is true her mother 
and stepfather offered her a home with 
them and the opportunity to work in their 
shop. But Gerry had never cared for her 
mother and now hated her stepfather, while 
the thought of the little town store was 
abhorrent. Yet there was no particular 
reason for this attitude save that Gerry 
had always been antagonistic to her environ- 
ment for as long as she could remember. 

She was so utterly unlike her own people 
both in appearance, manner and nature that 
she was a puzzle to aU of them. No one 
of them could have told from whom she 
inherited her delicate prettiness, her love of 
luxury and refinement. 


GERRY^S OPPORTUNITY 193 


One day, learning of Mrs. Burton’s 
presence in Chicago, suddenly Gerry con- 
ceived the idea of going to her and applying 
for the position of maid. If she must work 
she thought that she would like better than 
most things to live with a famous woman 
and perhaps travel with her and see 
something of the world. 

At the moment of Gerry’s arrival it 
chanced that by accident Mrs. Burton was 
at home and free from other engagements, 
so she decided to see and talk to her. 
Naturally Gerry was too young and 
untrained for the position she desired; 
moreover, Mrs. Burton had no need for the 
services of a maid, since Marie had been 
Mving with her a number of years. But she 
grew interested in her pretty guest, and 
feeUng the need of sympathy, Gerry was 
glad to pour forth her story. 

Ever after this visit, although no member 
of her family aside from her husband had 
been informed of the fact, Mrs. Burton 
had been paying Gerry’s board in Chicago 
during the winters, only urging her to try to 
educate herself for some work in the future. 
For several summers, as we know, Gerry 


13 


194 


BEHIND THE LINES 


had been invited to be a member of the 
Sunrise Camp Fire group. 

Therefore in a measure Gerry realized 
how poor a return she would be offering 
should she slip away with Felipe without 
confessing her intention to Mrs. Burton. 

Not once, but perhaps a dozen times, her 
mind was almost made up to find Mrs. 
Burton and tell her everything. For Gerry 
believed that by some method she could 
induce her friend to understand how deeply 
she cared for Felipe. There would be the 
argument of youth against their immediate 
marriage; but youth is not always only a 
question of the number of years one has 
lived, and Gerry felt convinced that she 
suddenly had grown old. 

Nevertheless there was always this 
stumbling block. How could she acknowl- 
edge her own intention and Felipe^s without 
betraying Felipe^s secret? To divulge the 
fact that he was planning to escape military 
service by crossing over the border into 
Mexico and hiding there was out of the 
question. 

Undoubtedly Gerry should have more 
fully appreciated the enormity of Felipe's 


GERRY^S OPPORTUNITY 195 


purpose, his selfishness and disloyalty. 
Strange that she should expect to find 
happiness with a man who wished to begin 
their life together by an act of deception 
and cowardice ! Nevertheless, by this time 
one must have learned to understand 
Gerry’s disposition sufficiently well to accept 
the fact that she did not fully understand, 
so completely was she under Felipe’s influ- 
ence. Yet Felipe must not be allowed to 
bear the entire burden of their wrong doing. 
Certainly Gerry was not marrying Felipe 
for his sake only, but also for the happiness 
and the ease which she believed the future 
would insure her. 

Notwithstanding this, since life is seldom 
guided by one clear motive, but by many 
mixed ones, Gerry was also ardently and 
sincerely in love. 

Her failure to grasp the extent of the 
danger she and Felipe were facing and the 
possible injury to her own reputation was 
due to three causes. The first of these was 
sheer stupidity, the second an actual lack 
of education and the third Gerry’s con- 
viction that this was her solitary chance for 
saving Felipe from the difficulties and 


196 


BEHIND THE LINES 


dangers of a soldier’s life and at the same 
time securing him for herself. 

In the end, as one might have guessed, 
Gerry Williams made no confession. 

Instead, in the hours when she had 
remained alone in her sleeping tent, she 
had packed a few possessions in her satchel, 
hiding the bag under her bed and wondering 
at the same time how she would ever 
manage to get it away the next day without 
exciting comment. 

The next day Fortune appeared to favor 
Gerry, as the fickle Dame does now and 
then, when one had best be thwarted. 

Immediately after their luncheon the 
Camp Fire girls decided to go upon a long 
walk. So much time had been given to the 
rehearsals of ^^As You Like It” that they 
had been exercising far less than usual in 
the past weeks. 

The wool for knitting and materials for 
making bandages having recently given 
out, Mrs. Webster offered to go into town 
with Dan to buy whatever was required. 

So, through a combination of quite 
ordinary circumstances. Sunrise camp was 
deserted except by Mrs. Burton, Marie and 
Gerry. 


GERRY’S OPPORTUNITY 197 


Mrs. Burton did not feel equal to the long 
hike and Gerry simply declined without 
giving a reason. 

Since her farewell to Felipe about thirty 
hours before, she had received no word from 
him and yet this afternoon Gerry knew he 
would appear. Now and then she even 
hoped he would not come, at least not until 
the next day, or even the one after that. 

Soon after the other girls departed, Mrs. 
Burton asked Gerry to sit beside her and 
talk while she rested in the sunshine. 

A small fire was always kept burning at 
Sunrise camp, no matter how warm the 
day, for the small amount of heat made no 
appreciable difference and the fire was 
always being needed for cooking. 

So Marie arranged an Indian blanket 
upon the ground away from the windward 
side of the fire and then went into her tent 
to write letters. 

Afterwards‘Mrs. Burton lay down in such 
a position that she could look closely at 
Gerry. 

In the few minutes they had been together 
without the others, she had noticed that 
Gerry looked pale and depressed. 


198 


BEHIND THE LINES 


“You are not worrying over anything, 
Gerry? Mrs. Burton asked. 

Gerry shook her head. “Certainly not. 
What have I to worry about — except 
everything? ’’ 

Perhaps it was unfortunate that Mrs. 
Burton chose this time to talk to Gerry 
about her future, although, since her mind 
really was naade up, probably nothing would 
have altered her decision. 

“I don^t want to worry you, or to have 
you worry, dear, Mrs. Burton began, 
“but I do wish it were possible for you to 
find some occupation that would interest 
you. It would make you ever so much 
happier! Forgive me if I have seen that 
you are more restless, less content than the 
other Camp Fire girls. And whatever 
work you wish to do, I do not wish you to 
go into it unprepared, a woman needs 
more training these days to make a success 
than a man. It has meant so much to me 
to give my time and energy to the art I 
love. I want you to have the same luck, 
Gerry.’^ 

Then Mrs. Burton reached out her hand, 
but her companion did not seem to observe 
it. 


GERRY’S OPPORTUNITY 199 


am sorry, I know I am a disappoint- 
ment,” she answered. ''But the trouble 
with me is that I am stupid and no work of 
any character interests me. I might as 
well tell you the truth.” 

For a moment Mrs. Burton did not reply. 
Gerry’s answer had made her impatient, and 
for this reason she felt it best not to argue. 

"Very well, perhaps the interest will 
come later. You are young enough to 
wait, Gerry, and please do not think I am 
not more than anxious to help you. You 
know it is only on your account I worry. 
I so wish the circumstances of your life 
were happier, my dear. I hate your being 
lonely.” 

Then as Gerry’s eyes were filling with 
tears and when^she was having a struggle 
not to break down entirely and make her 
confession, she and Mrs. Burton both heard 
at the same instant a gay voice singing as it 
approached nearer to them: 

“It was a lover and his lass, 

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino.” 

"Here comes Touchstone , Gerry! What 
a charming voice Felipe has! I know you 


200 


BEHIND THE LINES 


must feel relieved to be released from such 
a prosy talk as we were having/^ 

If Felipe had not been a particularly 
successful actor at the production of their 
play, Gerry was amazed by his present 
acting. 

He had suggested that they were either 
to motor or to drive away from Sunrise 
camp. Now he appeared on foot in the 
most casual fashion with his guitar swung 
over his shoulder. 

After bowing politely to Gerry, he imme- 
diately dropped down upon the ground 
beside Mrs. Burton and finished his song: 

‘*And therefore take the present time, 

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino; 

For love is crowned with the prime 
In springtime. ...” 

Nor did Felipe rise, or ask that Gerry 
be allowed to walk with him after his song 
was concluded. He merely continued 
talking in a casual fashion with Mrs. Burton. 

In half an hour, having finished their 
errands unexpectedly early, Mrs. Webster 
and Dan returned to camp. Dan went 
away immediately to put up the car and 


GERRY^S OPPORTUNITY 201 

Mrs. Burton arose to go indoors with her 
sister. 

Not until then did Felipe ask that Gerry 
be allowed to walk with him. He made the 
request with apparent indifference. 

Mrs. Burton hesitated. 

Gerry thought she was too tired to walk 
with the girls! But never mind. If you 
won’t go very far or stay too long, I suppose 
I must pay my actors in some fashion for 
their services, and I have had no oppor- 
tunity to thank you.” 

Then, as she moved away, she called 
back: 

Don’t forget to take your coat or a 
sweater with you, Gerry; it may turn 
unexpectedly cool.” 

So Gerry, feeling that her face was 
flushing crimson and her hands becoming 
like ice, was able to disappear inside her 
tent at the moment she desired. 

When she came out with her satchel the 
coat was hanging over it; besides, there was 
no one in sight to observe her own and 
Felipe’s departure. 

But the moment they started Felipe 
said quickly: 


202 


BEHIND THE LINES 


'^Don^t be worried, Gerry darling. I 
have a motor waiting for us about a mile 
away and my old nurse is there to take care 
of you. Her husband is with her and they 
are perfectly respectable and devoted to 
me. They will come back as soon as we 
are safely married and let Mrs. Burton and 
father know. They can’t tell them where 
we have gone, of course. They can simply 
say we have gone on a honeymoon. It will 
be all right. Lots of people run away and 
are married; it saves such a lot of fuss for 
one thing. Later on, if you like, we can 
write where we are, because neither Mrs. 
Burton nor father would betray us. I 
want, if possible, to cross over the border 
into Mexico tonight at dusk.” 

The rest of the afternoon passed like a 
strange and not a happy dream to Gerry. 

But whatever arrangements were neces- 
sary, whatever the law required of them, 
Felipe seemed to have managed all the 
formalities. As they drove from one place 
to another Gerry sat in the back of the 
automobile next Felipe’s old nurse, not even 
making an effort to talk to her and saying 
nothing to Felipe. Now and then Felipe 


GERRY’S OPPORTUNITY 203 


made little anxious inquiries to find out if 
she were all right and Gerry only nodded her 
head in reply. 

In the house of a clergyman in a small 
town not many miles away the ceremony 
was finally performed. Gerry declared 
that her parents had given their consent, 
knowing weU enough they would be 
delighted to hear of her marriage. Felipe 
Morris was of course several years more 
than the legal age. Besides Felipe’s nurse 
and her husband the wife and daughter of 
the clergyman also appeared as witnesses. 

But when the moment came for parting 
with their companions, Gerry begged that 
she be allowed to write a note to Mrs. 
Burton. The note was very short; Gerry 
scarcely understood what she was writing, 
nevertheless it said a great deal: 

^‘Dear Mrs. Burton: 

‘‘You will never be able to forgive me and I 
know I do not deserve that you should. Only pray 
I may be happy, because now the wedding ceremony 
is over and Felipe Morris and I are married, I am 
dreadfully frightened. 

“Yours with all love. 


'Gerry.^' 


204 BEHIND THE LINES 


The rest of the late afternoon was even 
more like a strange dream. 

At the border between Mexico and the 
United States Felipe managed successfully 
to deceive the guard. He had changed his 
costume and wore a Mexican one, he spoke 
Spanish and gave a name which was not his 
own. Gerry, who was wearing a veil tied 
closely about her head, the guard scarcely 
noticed. 

Felipe explained that he and his wife had 
driven over into California earlier in the 
day and were now on their way back to 
their home in Mexico. By a stroke of good 
fortune the guard had only been on duty a 
few hours, having changed places with 
another soldier. Therefore he had no way 
of disproving Felipe’s story; moreover, he 
happened to be new to his work. 

Never so long as she lived was Gerry to 
forget her first sight of the strange desert 
land of Mexico, which she saw when dusk 
was falling. 

The earth was a sea of sand with funny 
little hut-like houses sprinkled here and 
there, hung with gay signs written in a 
language Gerry did not comprehend. 


GERRY^S OPPORTUNITY 205 


Beyond them was a fringe of high bare 
hills, now purple in the evening shadows. 

Suddenly she realized her own and 
Felipe’s exile. They were without home 
or country; worse, they were deserters. 

For fear he was suffering an even deeper 
regret and remorse than had laid hold upon 
her, Gerry dared not look or speak to 
Felipe as their car carried them further and 
further away from their friends. 


CHAPTER XVII 


Folly and Courage 

B efore information of any kind 
concerning her mysterious disap- 
pearance was received from Gerry 
Williams, every member of the Sunrise 
Camp Fire had become alarmed. But it 
must be confessed that the girls were more 
annoyed than they were agitated. 

Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Webster were 
necessarily anxious, yet as Mrs. Webster 
had never felt an especial interest or 
affection for Gerry, she was less so than her 
sister. 

The Camp Fire girls had returned from 
their walk in time for a late afternoon tea. 
They were just finishing when Marta Clark 
inquired what had become of Gerry, and 
why she was not having tea with them? 

Then for the first time Mrs. Burton 
mentioned that Gerry had gone away from 
camp with Felipe Morris several hours 
before. But as she had promised to return 
( 206 ) 


FOLLY AND COUBAGE 207 


in a short time, already she was beginning 
to feel worried for fear something had 
happened. 

Then another hour went by and the dusk 
began to descend. But since it was late 
summer and the days were long, some time 
would still elapse before actual darkness. 

Nevertheless Mrs. Burton at first 
betrayed her nervousness by walking alone 
up and down the little traveled road beyond 
the camp. Finally she came back to the 
group of girls, who were still loitering 
about their camp fire before clearing away 
the tea things. 

^‘Do be good to me, Peggy. I know you 
are already tired from your long walk and 
I won^t go far,’^ she promised. '^But 
somehow I am so uncomfortable about 
Gerry I cannot keep still. I know I am 
absurd, but I have one of those ridiculous 
premonitions which never amount to any- 
thing. If she does not come back in another 
hour, I shall motor over to the ranch to 
inquire if Mr. Morris has received any 
word from Felipe.’^ 

In spite of the fact that Peggy was tired 
and also annoyed at what she presumed to 


208 


BEHIND THE LINES 


be Gerry^s selfish unconcern, she got up 
instantly at Mrs. Burton’s request, and as 
they started off on their walk placed her 
arm affectionately inside her aunt’s. 

^^I don’t see why you allow yourself to 
become so worked up over Gerry’s staying 
away from camp with Felipe longer than 
you approve,” said Peggy with her usual 
directness. ^^If you do not realize how 
much she is interested in him, you are 
the only one of us who is blind. Gerry 
has not cared for anything except her 
friendship with Felipe all this summer. 
She has an affection for you, but except 
for you everything in our Camp Fire life has 
bored her.” 

Knowing by her aunt’s expression that 
she was annoyed by her critical attitude, 
nevertheless Peggy, who was not in a good 
humor, went on with her plain speaking. 

^'Sometimes I have thought Gerry was 
really in love with Felipe; at other times 
I have simply thought she liked him just 
because he was a man and showed her some 
attention. Gerry is the type of girl who 
has not the faintest interest in other girls.” 

^^Is this your opinion alone, or the 


FOLLY AND COURAGE 209 


opinion of all the Camp Fire girls? Mrs. 
Burton inquired in a tone it was difficult to 
translate. 

Peggy flushed. “Perhaps it is my opinion 
alone, since it sounds rather hateful. In 
any case, I have no right to speak except 
for myself. But if you wish to know the 
truth, the opinion is pretty general.’^ 

“Have the girls the same attitude toward 
you, Peggy, because of your interest in 
Ralph Marshall? Mrs. Burton demanded. 
“You know how much of your time and 
thought you give to him these days, even 
though you rarely mention his name, and 
you have many more people to care for than 
Gerry, who is rather singularly alone. If 
you girls are not fond of her I am not 
surprised that she prefers Felipe Morris, 
who, after all, is exceptionally attractive.” 

Peggy was suddenly upon the defensive. 

“I don^t think I have allowed my interest 
in Ralph to interfere with my friendships with 
the Camp Fire girls, ” she argued defensively. 
“But I did not intend being disagreeable 
about Gerry. She is always amiable and 
sweet, only it is difficult not to resent her 
indifference and her absorption in herself. 


14 


210 


BEHIND THE LINES 


After this speech Mrs. Burton and Peggy 
continued their walk in silence for a few 
moments. Then Mrs. Burton said in a 
different tone : 

^‘When Gerry comes back this evening, 
Peggy, I wish you would try to be par- 
ticularly nice to her. If she has become 
too much interested in Felipe I cannot 
help being sorry for her. I have never told 
you girls much of Gerry^s history because 
she preferred my not telling. But she 
has had a hard time and no one has ever 
really cared for her. Her father is dead 
and her mother an impossibly common 
person without any good traits of character, 
so far as I have been able to discover, which 
would redeem her commonness. So things 
wiU be all the more difficult for Gerry if 
she is under the impression she cares for 
Felipe. In a little time our Camp Fire 
summer will be over and they will be 
separated.’’ 

Peggy nodded. ^‘I will do my best. 
I am sorry to have been so critical. At 
least Gerry does not make disagreeable 
speeches about other people! But you are 
mistaken if you think any of us has ever 


FOLLY AND COURAGE 211 


been unkind to her; it is only that we have 
found it impossible to become intimate. 
Of course she and Sally like each other. 
But if there are facts in Gerry’s life she 
does not wish to discuss, I can understand 
why she prefers not to develop too close an 
intimacy with the rest of us, who know 
almost everything about one another. But 
don’t worry, I presume some accident has 
delayed Gerry and Felipe. Suppose we 
return to camp? They may have taken 
some other route and arrived by this time.” 

But of course Gerry was not at the Sunrise 
camp. Within five minutes after Mrs. 
Burton’s and Peggy’s return, an automobile 
appeared containing an unknown man and 
woman. 

The woman asked to be permitted to 
speak to Mrs. Burton alone. 

Then, as she stood hesitating, trying to 
make up her mind what to say first, sud- 
denly she remembered Gerry’s crumpled 
little note. 

For Gerry’s sake it was as well that the 
news of her runaway marriage was imparted 
to her Camp Fire guardian and friend in 
this fashion, for the note revealed infinitely 


212 


BEHIND THE LINES 


more than Gerry realized. With Mrs. 
Burton’s understanding of human nature 
she understood something of the struggle, 
something of the temptation to which 
Gerry had yielded. Therefore in the midst 
of her surprise and anger she could not 
forget the note’s final pathetic appeal. 

Neither the woman nor man would tell 
much more than the bare facts of Gerry’s 
and Felipe’s marriage. They insisted that 
the ceremony was entirely legal and that 
immediately afterwards the young couple 
had gone away. In truth, they could not 
tell more, since as a matter of precaution 
Felipe had not informed either his nurse or 
her husband of his plans. 

After appreciating that the marriage had 
become a reality and that there was nothing 
she could do or say which would make any 
difference, Mrs. Burton asked but few 
questions. She knew that Felipe’s father 
would come to her as soon as he learned 
what had taken place and she preferred to 
discuss the situation with him and not with 
strangers. 

Of necessity it was Mrs. Burton who 
imparted the information to the Camp Fire 


FOLLY AND COURAGE 215 


girls, but she merely told what she knew 
as briefly as possible, adding no comment. 
Then she went away to be alone. She was 
not thinking of Gerry’s ingratitude, of the 
poor return she had made for her interest 
and assistance, but she was thinking of 
Gerry herself. Gerry was so young and 
she and Felipe knew each other so slightly. 
Then, as Mrs. Burton knew nothing at 
present of Felipe’s attempt to hide in Mex- 
ico, it also occurred to her that he might 
soon be forced to join the army. 

Left to themselves, the Camp Fire girls 
were not so lenient in their condemnation. 
It was Alice Ashton who chanced to voice 
the general sentiment. 

cannot understand how any human 
being could behave as Gerry has done! 
Certainly she has proved how little the 
Camp Fire influence has meant to her! 
But there is no point in our criticising her, 
because some day Gerry will have to pay 
dearly enough.” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


The Summons 


"’ER in the same night, being unable 



to sleep, Mrs. Burton was aroused 


^ ^ by hearing the approach of another 
motor car. It must have been between 
two and three o’clock in the dark hours 
before dawn when the earth is so strangely 
quiet. Moreover, cars were not in the 
habit of passing Sunrise camp at any hour, 
as it was too far from the main road to 
aUure travelers. 

Mrs. Burton quietly slipped on her 
dressing gown and slippers in order npt 
to disturb her sister, who slept in the 
room with her. As she walked to the 
front door she was under the impression 
that Gerry must have returned home to 
camp and would wish to see her. 

But outside it was so dark that for a 
moment she could see nothing. Then at a 
little distance off she discovered two figures 
standing close together. As Mrs. Burton 


( 214 ) 


THE SUMMONS 


215 


drew nearer she recognized one of them as 
Dan Webster, and as Dan was fully 
dressed he could not have been in bed 
during the night. The other man was 
Lieutenant Carson. 

^'Yes, I have been worried all night/' 
she overheard Dan say. persuaded 

mother to go to bed fairly early by telling 
her I would wait for Billy. But after 
midnight when he did not come I have 
not known what to do. I had no idea 
where to go to look for him. I was afraid 
something had happened. Is the accident 
serious? " 

“If it were not I would never have 
wakened you at such an hour," Lieuten- 
ant Carson answered. “Please break the 
news to your mother and sister as quickly 
as you can and ask them to hurry. I 
brought over one of our army cars, so 
there need be no delay. On the way to 
camp I will tell you as much as I know." 

Then Mrs. Burton stepped out of the 
shadow. 

“Billy is hurt," she began, not asking a 
question, but stating a conviction. What 
has he done?" she hesitated, her voice 
breaking. 



(216) As Mrs. Burton Drew Near She Recognized One op Them as Dan Webster 





THE SUMMONS 


217 


has done something so wonderful 
there is not a soldier in camp who would 
not be proud to accomplish one-half so 

much. But he has been injured and 

Lieutenant Carson tried to keep his own 
tones from becoming husky. 

see your mother, Dan,^^ said Mrs. 
Burton. ‘^Will you please waken Vera 
and Peggy? If Billy is conscious when we 
arrive he wiU wish to have Vera near him.” 

Within ten minutes the four women and 
Dan were on their way with Lieutenant 
Carson to the army cantonment. 

The lieutenant had asked Dan to drive 
the car during the first part of the journey 
so that he might explain what had occurred. 

^^Yes, Mrs. Webster, your son is in our 
Red Cross hospital and ever3rfching possi- 
ble is being done for him. A doctor 
reached him almost at once. But I wish 
I could tell you exactly what happened. 
As it is I can only repeat the story the 
little chap told himself. No one knows 
anything else, but he has been perfectly 
conscious aU along and I am told is not 
suffering a great deal,” Lieutenant Carson 
faltered, wishing that the task in which he 
was engaged had fallen to some one else. 


218 


BEHIND THE LINES 


'^Please tell us everything you can,” 
Peggy urged. “I feel my mother had best 
know the truth before we reach Billy.” 

“As far as I could find out there have 
been two laborers employed at our camp 
who are traitors. In spite of all the official 
red tape and investigations, your son Billy 
seems to have been the only person who 
discovered the fact. The little fellow 
apparently called himself a pacifist and 
made friends with the men. Anyhow they 
must have believed he sympathized with 
them, for he has been watching them for 
some time. I don^t know how long, I am 
having to guess a part of this. But they 
must have finally decided he was one of 
them, as they allowed him to find out their 
secrets. It is amazing. I don^t see how 
he managed!” 

“But you have not yet told us how Billy 
chanced to be at your camp tonight and 
how he came to be hurt. Lieutenant Car- 
son,” Peggy pleaded, knowing that the 
same thought was in all their minds. 

“Billy knew there was mischief brewing 
without knowing exactly what the ruffians 
were planning to do, at least, that is the 


THE SUMMONS 


219 


way I understand the facts/^ the young 
officer continued. “But it seems that 
when he had followed them to their meet- 
ing place earlier in the evening, he found 
out they had placed a bomb in one of our 
big buildings at camp which was set to go 
off at a certain hour tonight. Billy says 
he made the men believe he considered 
this a great idea, otherwise they would 
never have allowed him to escape. He 
seems to have had the nerve to get up and 
spout a little speech on pacifism before 
about half a dozen of them. I believe he 
said that if only the men managed to 
destroy our war camps, the United States 
would never be able to enter the war in 
Europe and so peace would soon have to 
be declared as the Allies couldn^t go on 
without Americans aid. Anyhow, after a 
while they let the little fellow go and he 
pretended to be starting for home. But 
instead he made for our camp. 

“Perhaps he could have managed better. 
What I should have done in his place I 
donT know; but he was a little chap up 
against a pretty big proposition. He did 
not know how to get the news to camp 


220 


BEHIND THE LINES 


unless he told some one out here what was 
about to take place. He was trying to 
slip into camp with his news when one of 
our sentries shot him. He was just able 
to teU the soldier who picked him up what 
his business was and — well, we found the 
infernal machine where he told us to look 
for it. And God only knows how many 
lives Billy has saved 

^'But my son will hve?^^ Mrs. Webster 
inquired, with the quiet fortitude which 
comes now and then to some of us in the 
reaUy great moments of our lives. 

^^I don’t know, Mrs. Webster,” Lieu- 
tenant Carson answered honestly. ^*I 
was only ordered to bring you to camp as 
quickly as possible.” 

Then the young officer took charge of 
the car, as he was more familiar with the 
road than Dan. 

The southern dawn which Billy had 
learned to love in these past weeks was 
breaking into pale lavender and rose when 
the army automobile arrived at camp. 

A good many of the soldiers were walk- 
ing about, not caring to go back to sleep 
after what had occurred. More of them 


THE SUMMONS 


221 


than one would imagine remembered see- 
ing Billy about camp in the past few 
weeks, the delicate young fellow with the 
extraordinary blue eyes. Lucky thing for 
them that he had been around, but hard on 
him! 

Captain Mason and Major Anderson, 
two of the oflScers who were friends of Mrs. 
Burton^s, came forward to meet her and 
Mrs. Webster. 

They led the way to the hospital, with 
the girls and Dan and Lieutenant Carson 
following. 

Your son has been asking for you, Mrs. 
Webster, only he said you were not to be 
frightened about him and we were not to 
let you know what had happened until 
breakfast time,^^ Major Anderson remarked 
with that same huskiness in his voice 
which Lieutenant Carson had been unable 
to conceal. ^^This war has made many 
heroes and will make many more, but I 
don^t know of a finer thing than your son 
has done. He must have known the risk 
he ran when he came out here alone tonight 
on such an errand. 

At the door of the hospital, which was 


222 


BEHIND THE LINES 


only a wooden hotise with a Red Cross flag 
outside, the doctor met the little company. 

'^You will be as quiet as you can and 
try not to excite him,^^ he said, and there 
was something in his voice which made all 
questioning impossible. 

Then Mrs. Webster and Dan and Peggy 
went inside the little hospital. Within a 
few moments Dan came out again with 
his head bowed and went away by himself 
without speaking. 

^^WiU it be many hours, Doctor?^’ Mrs. 
Burton inquired. 

The doctor shook his head. 

'^Not many.’^ 

Mrs. Burton was standing with her arm 
about Vera Lagerloff, feeling Vera^s grief 
almost as deeply as her own. Without a 
tie of blood, without the right to be near 
him which his family had, Vera was yet 
clqser to Billy in many ways than any 
other human being in the world. 

^^You shall see him soon, dear,’’ Mrs. 
Burton murmured. 

Vera nodded. 

^^BiUy will send for me; there will be 
so many things he will wish to say,” she 


THE SUMMONS 


223 


replied and her tone was one of love and 
understanding. 

‘^1 don’t think I can get on without Billy 
afterwards, Mrs. Burton. No one else has 
realized how wonderful he was, what beau- 
tiful things he was planning to do with his 
life.” Vera was shivering so Mrs. Burton 
could only hold her more closely. 

know, dear, and yet how could one 
do more than Billy has done? Greater 
love hath no man than this that he lay 
down his life for his friend. Billy’s friends, 
remember, were never merely the few peo- 
ple he knew; his idea of friendship was a 
bigger thing than ours.” 

^^Billyj^wishes to speak to you, Tante, 
and to Vera,” Peggy said at this instant 
appearing at the open door. Don’t be 
unhappy at seeing him. He is not fright- 
ened and yet he understands perfectly he 
has only a little while.” 

Billy was lying on a cot with a nurse on 
one side of him and his mother on the 
other, but, except for this, looking much as 
he usually did. 

His face was paler and the blue eyes 
even wider open, yet for once in his life 


224 BEHIND THE LINES 


they seemed to have lost their questioning 
look. 

^^I promised you not to get into mis- 
chief, Tante. WeU, this is the last time; 
at least, I suppose it is my last. But after 
all one does not know; there may be other 
chances over there.^’ 

Billy was trying to smile and Mrs. Bur- 
ton leaned over and kissed him. 

'^I know there will be, Billy, and you 
will take them as gallantly as you have 
done this one. DonT worry, old chap, 
IT look after your mother and Peggy.^’ 

Then she turned away. 

Vera had kneeled down and was hiding 
her face in the bed clothes. 

It was to her Billy turned like a little 
boy. 

^‘Please look at me, Vera, and tell me 
you are sorry. It was like me to do the 
right thing in the wrong way, wasn’t it? 
Yet there are so many things I want to 
say, want to explain to people. You see 
it is aU a question of our learning to imder- 
stand each other better to end fighting and 
all the rest of it. You believed in me, 
didn’t you, Vera? Yet you understand 


THE SUMMONS 


225 


that I could not let the soldiers out here be 
killed when they are getting ready to give 
their lives for ours. What is that we read 
about Christ the other day, Vera? ’’ 

Vera held Billy’s two hands folded closely 
in her own. 

^ listen, dear, and remember this: 
^Christ is courage, Christ is adventure, he 
fights for us and with us against death.’ ” 


15 


CHAPTER XIX 


Plans for the Future 

I N a large hotel sitting-room a number of 
girls were grouped in various attitudes, 
discussing a question which evidently 
interested them. 

''Does any one know why we are not to 
start east tomorrow as we planned?^' 
Marta Clark inquired, glancing up from a 
city map which she had been studying. 

Why, no, not exactly, Bettina Graham 
answered her. ^'Tante did not tell us 
definitely. She merely said that something 
had occurred which made her feel it would 
be wiser for her to remain in California a 
few days longer, unless we were compelled 
to leave for home at once. Personally I 
cannot imagine what is keeping her here, 
as I know she is anxious to go home, now 
that our Camp Fire summer is over and 
Peggy and Aunt Mollie and Dan Webster 
have gone. I think it was wonderfully 
good of her to continue with our camping 
( 226 ) 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 227 


party after Billy’s death, when she must 
have wished to leave with the others.” 

“I think I know why she seemed to 
change her mind so unexpectedly yesterday 
and canceled all our reservations for berths,” 
SaUy Ashton announced in the mysterious 
manner which SaUy often assumed to the 
annoyance of the other girls. Since her 
arrival in the city, Sally temporarily had 
forsworn her war and Camp Fire absti- 
nence and was at this moment engaged in 
eating chocolates which had just arrived 
by parcel post from Merton Anderson. 

^^How absurd you are, Sally! You know 
no more than the rest of us!” Alice Ashton 
argued with sisterly frankness. 

Instead of replying, sanctimoniously 
tightening her hps, Sally added nothing to 
her original statement. 

^^Nevertheless, won’t you please teU us 
what you think, SaUy?” Vera Lagerlofif 
requested, and because it was Vera who 
made the request SaUy agreed. 

Since BiUy’s death the Camp Fire girls 
had been as unobtrusively kind to Vera 
as they knew how to be. In a measure they 
appreciated what his loss must mean to 


228 


BEHIND THE LINES 


her, although it was out of the question 
that they could fully understand the extent 
of Vera’s loneliness, the feeling of empti- 
ness which the future now seemed to offer 
her. 

Vera’s long and devoted friendship with 
Billy had separated her from the usual 
intimacy with other girls, nevertheless she 
was a general favorite. For a good many 
years BiUy had required whatever time 
and thought she could spare from her 
ordinary duties and affections. 

think, Vera, that Tante recently has 
heard some unexpected news of Gerry,” 
Sally finally announced with the proper 
degree of solemnity and with a due sense 
of dramatic values. 

At least she was a dramatic success to 
the extent of surprising her audience. 

^^What authority have you for such a 
statement, Sally?” Alice Ashton demanded 
in the superior voice and manner which 
Alice now and then affected. 

Sally shrugged her shoulders. I haven’t 
any authority, I have a ^ hunch’,” she 
returned, appreciating how painfully her 
slang would annoy her intellectual sister. 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 229 

^^But how is it possible that Gerry could 
have written? DonT you think she and 
Felipe are still hiding in Mexico? We 
know that much from what Mr. Morris 
has told us! If Gerry should write to Mrs. 
Burton she might betray her own and 
Felipe’s secret and she would not do that,” 
Marta Clark protested. 

did not say Gerry had written, I only 
said that I believed Tante had received 
some information concerning her,” Sally 
answered, undisturbed by criticism. 

In response to this speech the expressions 
on the faces of the four other girls became 
curiously alike. 

'^I don’t believe if I were Mrs. Burton I 
should ever take an interest in Gerry again,” 
Marta Clark announced. ^'Perhaps I am 
more in a position to say this than any of 
the rest of you, because all of you have 
some past association with Mrs. Burton; 
she was an intimate friend of your mothers. 
She simply chose to be kind to me and to 
invite me to spend this summer with her 
Camp Fire group without any especial 
reason, just as she has been good to Gerry. 
If I should repay her kindness as Gerry 


230 


BEHIND THE LINES 


has done, I should never dare make the 
effort to see her again, or to ask her for- 
giveness, no matter how greatly I might 
desire it/’ 

feel just as you do, Marta,” Bettina 
Graham agreed. 

But Sally gave a little protesting cough, 
holding a chocolate drop suspended in the 
air for an instant. 

Judge not, lest ye be judged,” she 
declared sententiously, and then with a 
somewhat less self-righteous expression, 
'^Was that quotation from the Bible or 
Shakespeare and did I quote correctly? 
The truth is I wish that all of you would 
not be so hard upon Gerry. I know you 
think it siUy and impossible for a girl not 
yet eighteen to be really in love, but just 
the same Gerry is in love with Felipe. As 
she is in love with him and he has been a 
coward and is now a fugitive from his own 
country, I don’t suppose Gerry is so happy 
that aU of you need be disagreeable about 
her. Personally I am perfectly sure that 
if Gerry wishes Tante’s sympathy and 
help again, Tante would be sure to do 
whatever she could to help her.” 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 231 


'^Hats off to Sally!” Bettina Graham 
remarked and no one disputed the sug- 
gestion. Still of course, Sally dear, 
it is impossible that any news could 
have been received from Gerry, since she 
and Felipe must remain out of the country 
until the war is over and the whole circum- 
stance of Felipe is forgotten,” Bettina 
continued. “But suppose when Tante 
returns we inquire why we are to wait 
over in Los Angeles a few days more? I 
presume she would not object to explain- 
ing. I believe no one asked her the direct 
question.” 

“Yes, but she would have volunteered 
to tell had she wished us to know,” Alice 
Ashton argued. 

Vera Lagerloff, who had been sitting by 
an open window looking out toward a 
circle of hills which were like giant ame- 
thysts in the afternoon light, turned toward 
the other girls. 

“Suppose if we have no other plans we 
spend tomorrow on Mount Lowe and give 
Mrs. Burton the opportunity to be alone,” 
she suggested. “We have been at the 
seashore so long I am anxious for a day 
among the hiJ^^ ” 


232 


BEHIND THE LINES 


Then she addressed Marta Clark. 

^^You are mistaken, Marta,, if you think 
all of us here, aside from you, have some 
past association with Mrs. Burton. I 
have none except that Billy and I always 
have been friends and he asked his aunt 
to take an interest in me. Now Mrs. Bur- 
ton is going to do something for me which 
seems more wonderful than anything she 
has ever done for any one else, although I 
know she has been a fairy godmother to a 
good many people. But she is to pay my 
expenses and allow me to go to France to 
work in the devastated country which has 
lately been cleared of the Germans. ^The 
Field of Honor ^ is the name for this part of 
France which I like best. I hope to work 
among the homeless children. But in any 
case I have been brought up on a farm and 
can do farming work, which I have heard 
is especially needed. I am to study in New 
York City before I sail. Courses of study 
are being given there under the auspices of 
the French Huguenot societies. 

An unusual silence followed Vera’s long 
speech and then it was Sally Ashton who 
spoke first. 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 233 


''For your sake, Vera, I am so glad, for 
I know the new life and the new work will 
mean a great deal to you just now. I only 
wish I were going with you.^^ 

"But you, Sally, what on earth could 
you do that would be useful in France?’^ 
Alice remonstrated, not because she wished 
to be disagreeable but to relieve the little 
tension which Vera^s confidence had 
wrought. 

"At least I can cook, which is a more 
useful accomplishment than any you can 
offer, Alice,’^ Sally returned with such 
ridiculous spitefulness that the other girls 
laughed. 

"I believe I am also envious of you, 
Vera,’' Bettina remarked. "All summer I 
have been feeling that we were not doing 
enough to help with the war merely by 
economizing and sewing and knitting, all 
the hundred and one small things we have 
tried to do. If we were boys we would be 
going through at least a little military 
training and in a few years would be able 
to volunteer. It is simply amazing what 
the girls and women are doing in England. 
So far we have not nearly approached their 


234 


BEHIND THE LINES 


efforts. Do you know there is a ^Woman’s 
Army Auxiliary Corps ^ already in Prance 
working directly behind the lines. I believe 
the Tommies call them ^The Tommy- 
waacs.’ We have been talking about being 
behind the lines this summer, but I wish we 
could be more directly there.’^ 

^^But what is the exact work the English 
girls are doing?’’ Alice demanded, as if 
she were seriously weighing a problem in 
her mind. “I am sure we can do the same 
things if they become necessary.” 

“I don’t know all the varieties of war 
work of course, Alice,” Bettina returned. 
^'In Great Britain women, and girls have 
taken the places of the men in more depart- 
ments of labor than we can imagine. Of 
course we know they are working in 
munition shops and aeroplane factories and 
in ship building, and are telephone and 
telegraph operators. Now they are also 
working among the blind, being specially 
trained for the work, of course, and are 
actually driving ambulances and motor 
trucks near the fighting line. But I 
will bore you if I go on enumerating 
even the little I know. Personally I agree 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 235 

with, Vera, I should prefer to work among 
the children. Madame Montessori, the 
great Italian teacher, has been in the United 
States this summer trying to establish 
what she calls the order of the 'White 
Cross. ^ The members of the White Cross 
are to devote themselves to the care of the 
children who have suffered from the war. 
She says there is no hope of their growing 
into healthy and normal men and women 
unless they receive special care.^^ 

"Is there an organization anything like 
our own Camp Fire girls in France? 
Sally Ashton demanded unexpectedly. "I 
know there is in England where they call 
themselves the 'Girl Scouts.’ But I should 
think that young girls living and working 
together in France as we have been trying 
to do, might help each other and be useful 
to other people as well.” 

"I quite agree with you, Sally,” Bettina 
returned. "Odd, that no one of us can 
answer your question! But as soon as we 
return East I mean to make it my business 
to find out if there is a French Camp Fire. 
At least we could write to the French Camp 
Fire girls if they exist.” 


236 


BEHIND THE LINES 


At this instant the girls’ conversation was 
interrupted by the sudden opening of a 
door and Mrs. Burton’s entrance. 

She was not in mourning but was wear- 
ing a black dress and hat which were unbe- 
coming and made her look older. 

^‘Why is everybody so serious?” she 
instantly demanded. 

Before any one else could reply Sally 
Ashton answered : 

^^We are serious because we are thinking 
that some day we may ask you to take us 
to France to form Camp Fire clubs over 
there and to do whatever we can to help. 
Oh, of course I know we must learn more of 
what will be required of us and be pre- 
pared to make all kinds of sacrifices.” 

Flinging her hat on the bed with as great 
carelessness as if she were a girl and also 
as if she were pleased to be rid of it, Mrs. 
Burton replied: 

You are an amazing child, Sally. Even 
if I had the courage for such an under- 
taking, which I have not, do you suppose 
I would have sufficient influence with the 
parents of any one of you to persuade them 
to allow you to stir one foot away from your 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 237 


own land at a time like this? But I under- 
stand you have been hearing Vera’s news. 
The circumstances with Vera are excep- 
tional. Wait here another moment, there 
is something I have to tell you.” 

Then Mrs. Burton disappeared into her 
bedroom which adjoined their hotel sitting- 
room. Their hotel was not in the center 
of the city but in a suburb a few miles out. 

A few moments later she returned wear- 
ing a lavender crepe dressing gown and 
looking younger and more attractive. 

For some reason she sat down next Sally 
and put her arm about Sally’s shoulders. 

hope my information may interest 
you,” she began with a shght suggestion 
of appeal in her voice, glancing from one 
of the girls to the other. 

'‘Two days ago I received a letter from 
Mr. Morris telling me that Felipe had 
been arrested by the United States author- 
ities. He had crossed over into Cali- 
fornia for the day in order to attend to 
some private business. I believe he wished 
to get some money from his father. He 
trusted, of course, in not being discovered, 
but was arrested within an hour.” 


238 


BEHIND THE LINES 


suppose I ought to say I am sorry, 
if that is what you wish, Tante? But 
reaUy I cannot. It seems to me exactly 
the fate that Felipe Morris deserves,” 
Bettina Graham answered coldly. 

^'What will be done to Felipe as a pun- 
ishment for having tried to escape the 
draft?” asked Alice Ashton. believe 
the punishment is very severe, is it not?” 

''His father is afraid he will receive 
three years’ imprisonment,” Mrs. Burton 
replied without comment. 

Then she heard a little horrified exclama- 
tion from the girl nearest her and Sally’s 
face had whitened and her expression 
changed. 

"But Gerry! What is to become of 
Gerry?” she demanded. "I know that 
she behaved very badly and that she 
ought to have persuaded Felipe to do his 
duty, instead of helping him to run away 
from it. But Gerry was dreadfully under 
Felipe’s influence, and, anyhow, I don’t care, 
I am terribly sorry for her,” Sally ended 
incoherently, hiding her brown eyes behind 
her hand. 

"I also am very sorry, Sally,” Mrs. 


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 239 

Burton added. ^^The fact of having done 
a wrong has never yet made any human 
being’s punishment easier to bear. But I 
can tell you one thing about Gerry, Sally 
dear, since you alone seem interested. 
She is in California and is coming to see 
me tomorrow. She returned to California 
as soon as she received word of Felipe’s 
arrest. She has been with Mr. Morris, 
and they of course will do whatever is in 
their power to have Felipe’s sentence made 
as light as possible. I am afraid they can- 
not do very much. In all probability an 
example will be made of him.” 


CHAPTER XX 


Bitter Waters 

F ollowing Vera’s suggestion, the 
next morning the five girls decided 
that they would spend the day in 
making the journey up the famous Mount 
Lowe, a few miles away. Afterwards they 
intended taking one of the long trail trips 
over the mountain, so that it would be 
impossible for them to return to their 
hotel until late afternoon. 

For many reasons it seemed best that 
Mrs. Burton should be alone when she 
received the visit from Gerry. Surely 
Gerry would wish to have at least this 
first interview without interruption! 

Believing it impossible that her guest 
could arrive before noon, Mrs. Burton 
spent the early hours of the morning in 
writing letters to her husband and sister, 
including several business notes as well. 
She would not confess it to herself; never- 
theless she felt nervous over her first meet- 
( 240 ) 


BITTER WATERS 


241 


ing with Gerry, for although only a few 
weeks had passed they had been crowded 
so tragically close with events in Gerry’s 
life and in her own. There had been the 
unexpected tragedy of Billy’s death, Billy 
who had been so unhke other boys in his 
hfe and in his final beautiful surrender of 
life. 

Therefore when a knock came at her 
sitting-room door at some time between 
half-past ten and eleven, presuming one 
of the hotel servants was outside, Mrs. 
Burton said, ^^Come in,” without raising 
her eyes from the paper upon which she 
was writing. 

Afterwards the door opened softly and 
the next instant some one had entered the 
room, but instead of attending to what- 
ever duty had made the intrusion necessary, 
the figure stood hesitating just inside the 
threshold. 

After a little while, becoming vaguely 
conscious of this fact, Mrs. Burton glanced 
up. 

Gerry, you poor child!” she exclaimed 
with such sudden, warm sympathy and 
with such an utter lack of criticism oi 


16 


242 


BEHIND THE LINES 


reproach that any human being would 
have been moved to gratitude and remorse. 

Gerry stumbled forward. Poor Gerry, 
who had changed so completely in the past 
few weeks that even her delicate prettiness 
seemed to have vanished forever! She 
was so white and worn looking, so thin and 
unhappy. 

“Then you forgive me?^^ she began. 

Mrs. Burton took both her hands. 

“We are not going to talk about for- 
giveness. You had your own life to live, 
Gerry, and it was natural that you should 
do the thing you supposed to be for your 
happiness without thinking of your grati- 
tude or obligation to me. If it had been 
for your happiness I should not have 
expected you to think of me, although it 
would have been kinder of you. But of 
course, dear, when girls do reckless things, 
the reason older persons are grieved and 
angry is because of the consequences they 
are sure to bring upon themselves. Being 
young you cannot understand this! Yet 
it seems to me that you are having to pay 
rather more than other people. Do sit 
down, dear; the other girls have gone away 
for the day so we shall be entirely alone.'' 


BITTER WATERS 


243 


As if she were really too tired to stands 
Gerry sank into the nearest chair. 

am sorry; I have not been able to 
sleep since Felipe was arrested. I am told 
he keeps asking for me and I am not 
allowed to see him. He thinks he has done 
me a great injustice, but that is not true 
and besides I do not care.’^ 

Gerry spoke with entire self-forgetfulness- 
''Mrs. Burton, I don’t think you or per- 
haps anyone can understand, although I 
have tried to make Mr. Morris see. But 
Felipe and I have been perfectly miserable 
ever since we were married. Oh, it is 
not because we do not care for each 
other, because we do care very, very 
deeply! Only neither Felipe nor I seemed 
to realize the weakness and wrong of what 
we were doing until we were safely out of 
our own country and had time to face the 
truth. Then Felipe confessed to me he 
had been a coward. He seemed to think 
that no matter what happened in our future 
together, I must always think of him as a 
coward and compare him with other men 
who had done their duty. I don’t know 
why he did not think of all this before- 


244 


BEHIND THE LINES 


But Felipe has written me that he is almost 
glad he has been arrested. Anything 
which may happen to him will be better 
than having to live as a fugitive until the 
war is over. Besides, even afterwards, he 
could never look another American fellow 
in the face, remembering his own weakness! 
Can you understand how anyone could 
change a point of view so quickly, Mrs. 
Burton?^’ Gerry inquired wistfuUy. “It 
is hard even for me, and yet I realize that 
Felipe and I simply woke up from our self- 
ish dream of happiness to realizing we had 
been traitors and cowards.’^ 

“I can understand almost any weakness 
and almost any strength in human beings, 
Gerry dear, after the years I have lived 
and the men and women I have known, 
Mrs. Burton answered, forgetting for the 
moment Gerry^s youth. But the bitter 
waters of experience and regret having 
passed over Gerry, she was no longer 
young. 

Suddenly Mrs. Burton got up and began 
walking up and down the room with the 
graceful impatience which was ever char- 
acteristic of her. 


BITTER WATERS 


245 


For a moment, watching her, Gerry felt 
her old charm so deeply that temporarily 
she forgot her own sorrow. The peculiar 
shining quality which Polly O^Neill had 
revealed as a girl in times of keen emotion 
she had never lost. 

^‘1 declare, Gerry, I cannot endure the 
thought that you and Felipe have so 
spoiled your lives at the age when you 
should have been happiest. If anything 
happens, if Felipe is kept in prison for a 
time, what do you intend to do? 

Gerry glanced down apparently at her 
hands which were Ughtly clasped together 
in her lap. 

When she looked up at her companion 
she was smiling, even if somewhat tremu- 
lously. 

^'I am going to work, Mrs. Burton, 
although it may be difficult for you to 
believe after the effort I have made to 
escape even the thought of work. But I 
think at last I have found something which 
will interest me. Mr. Morris is very kind; 
of course he must dislike me under the cir- 
cumstances and feel I influenced Felipe, 
nevertheless he has asked me to live with 


246 


BEHIND THE LINES 


him at the ranch indefinitely. But I won^t 
do that, not after Felipe's trial is over. 
I shall do some kind of war work and I 
I don't care now how menial or how humble 
it is. After a time perhaps I may learn to 
be useful. Felipe and I have talked 
things over and we want to do whatever is 
possible to atone for our mistake. If we 
only had it aU to do oyer again! But then, 
of course, I realize what a foolish thing that 
is to say!" 

^Ht may be foolish, Gerry, but it is 
universal." 

After this remark Mrs. Burton did not 
sit down, nor did she speak again for sev- 
eral moments. Instead she stood, frown- 
ing and looking peculiarly determined and 
intense. 

Gerry, if Felipe were released from 
prison, do you think he would be willing 
to go into the army and do whatever he 
could to make himself a good soldier? I 
don't believe Felipe is a physical coward, he 
was merely a spiritual one. He is rash 
and impetuous and in a moment of actual 
fighting no one would be braver or per- 
haps more reckless. What he dreaded was 


BITTER WATERS 


247 


the discipline, the thought of war, the having 
to relinquish the ease and beauty and 
pleasure of his daily life. Well, there must 
have been other boys like him, boys who 
fought with their own disinclination more 
gallantly than Felipe! Yet it would be 
foolish for the United States to lose a sol- 
dier for her army in order to gain a pris- 
oner. Don’t you think Mr. Morris and 
you also, Gerry, can persuade Felipe’s 
judges to view the situation in this light? 
Let him accept whatever punishment they 
see fit to bestow, only they must not spoil 
his one chance of redeeming his mistake by 
fighting for his country.” 

Mrs. Burton might have been pleading 
with a court instead of addressing the soli- 
tary figure of one unhappy girl. However, 
she was merely thinking aloud. 

'^Mr. Morris is to make that plea for 
Felipe, although he has very little hope,” 
Gerry answered. Felipe would be willing 
to give even his life now to blot out the 
past.” 

Mrs. Burton walked over and placed her 
hands on Gerry’s shoulders. 

''My dear,” she said, "I am going to 


248 


BEHIND THE LINES 


stay here in California with you for a time 
at least and see what I can do to help. I 
may not have much influence, but I shall 
do my best. The girls can go home alone; 
they do not require me to chaperon them. 
I have no doubt they will have more pleas- 
ure in traveling without me. Besides, it 
seems to me that no one at present has the 
same need for me that you have, Gerry!’’ 

Slowly in these past few weeks Gerry’s 
soul had been coming to the light. The 
revelation of It now shone through her 
eyes, yet she made no effort to express her 
thanks in words. 

'^When the time arrives and Felipe is 
allowed to go to France to fight, perhaps I 
shaU have learned to be useful. Do you 
think they will ever allow American girls 
to work behind the lines? ” 

Mrs. Burton shook her head. 

don’t know. Yet the call of France 
rings in all our ears and all our hearts today, 
Gerry. We can only answer the call when 
our opportunity arises. 


The next volume in the Camp Fire 
series wiU deal with the work of the Camp 


BITTER WATERS 


249 


Fire girls in France. They will establish 
Camp Fires among the young French girls. 
The old care-free days having passed away, 
'they will also devote their energies to aid- 
ing the children of France and to doing 
^Hheir bit’’ toward the restoration of that 
land of our affection, France, where, in the 
future as in the past, Beauty and Liberty 
must walk hand in hand. The title will 
be ‘‘The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of 
Honor.” 


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